There are three ironies in the battle between the Union Government and WhatsApp. One of these pertains to you even though you are not an activist, journalist, film-maker, academician or a lawyer. Unlike them, you never thought free speech was imperilled in India, for you never felt restrained airing your views among friends. In recent years, you took to smartphones to vent or send memes. Good time-pass!

But time-pass is likely to become time past because of the Information Technology Rules, 2021, which came into force last week. These rules make it mandatory for “significant social media intermediaries”, defined as messaging platforms with 50 lakh users, to disclose, when asked by bureaucrats in the Central Government, who “originated” a particular message. This demand could be made in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, security and defence of India, friendly relations with foreign countries, public order or to prevent incitement to commit cognisable offence. Some of these terms can be expansively interpreted — and misused.