Itender Rawat, the current operator of Soft2Share.com, has been implicated in a series of serious allegations, including breaches of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the dissemination of false information targeting Australian journalists.
The controversy centers around two fabricated news articles that were published on Soft2Share.com, allegedly authored by Rawat under the alias “Clarissa Turner.”
These articles published on Soft2Share contained false, misleading and fake news about an Australian journalist and a media organization, which have now become the focal point of a defamation case.
The misinformation is believed to have been a retaliatory act by Rawat following the exposure of his involvement in a significant spam operation.
Investigations reveal that Rawat had been operating under false pretenses, claiming compliance with GDPR laws while engaging in the illegal sale of spam lists. These activities, carried out while posing as “Clarissa Turner,” have raised serious concerns about the integrity and ethical standards of operations under his management.
The Australian journalist who was the subject of the defamatory content has taken legal action, and a case is currently underway to address the damage caused by the false allegations.
The incident has sparked broader discussions about the need for stricter enforcement of digital content laws, particularly in the areas of data protection and the dissemination of information online.
Legal experts warn that this case could set a significant precedent for how GDPR violations and the spread of misinformation are handled in the future.
As the investigation progresses, the potential consequences for Rawat could include severe financial penalties.
In the wake of serious allegations against Itender Rawat, the operator of Soft2Share.com, the website’s hosting provider, DreamHost, has been officially contacted regarding the publication of fake news and misinformation.
An abuse case report with dreamhost.com has been filed, requesting the suspension of the website pending further investigation.
The Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation, although a voluntary industry code, emphasizes the responsibility of online platforms to safeguard Australians from the harmful effects of misinformation. The signatories to this code commit to implementing scalable measures to reduce the spread of such content. DreamHost, as the hosting provider, is now under pressure to uphold these principles and take decisive action against the site.
In addition to the defamation case, Rawat’s activities may also have breached the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and Australian Consumer Law. Under these laws, the maximum pecuniary penalties for breaches can be substantial. The penalties are calculated as the greater of:
- $50,000,000
- If the Court can determine the value of the ‘reasonably attributable’ benefit obtained, three times that value
- If the Court cannot determine the value of the benefit, 30% of the corporation’s adjusted turnover during the period of the breach.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) have both been contacted regarding the misinformation and defamation allegations against Itender Rawat, the operator of the site.
In addition, a formal legal filing has been made with Google.com to address the dissemination of the misleading content.
The involvement of these authorities marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation into Soft2Share.com, where Rawat allegedly published false articles under the alias “Clarissa Turner.”
The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications not only for Rawat but also for other operators of digital platforms who engage in similar activities.
