No proposal to appoint regulator for social media: Prasad
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“The social media platforms are enjoined to develop a sturdy grievance redressal system.”
The authorities on Wednesday knowledgeable Parliament that there isn’t any proposal with the IT ministry to arrange a regulator for social media.
Union IT and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, nonetheless, mentioned that the federal government has launched Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, beneath the IT Act that specifies the due diligence to be adopted by all of the intermediaries, together with the social media intermediaries.
“The social media platforms are enjoined to develop a robust grievance redressal system. Presently, there is no proposal with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to appoint a regulator for social media,” Mr. Prasad knowledgeable the Lok Sabha.
The authorities in February had introduced sweeping laws for social media corporations like Facebook and Twitter in addition to OTT gamers equivalent to Netflix, requiring them to take away any content material flagged by authorities inside 36 hours and organising a grievance redressal mechanism with an officer being based mostly within the nation.
The pointers additionally make it necessary for platforms equivalent to Twitter and WhatsApp to establish the originator of a message that authorities take into account to be anti-national and in opposition to safety and sovereignty of the nation.
The new guidelines associated to social media platforms are to be dealt with by the IT ministry whereas the Information and Broadcasting ministry will take care of content material associated points on leisure apps and on-line information portals.
Mr. Prasad mentioned beneath provision of part 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the federal government blocks illegal and malicious on-line content material together with social media account, within the curiosity of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, safety of the State, pleasant relations with international states or public order or for stopping incitement to the fee of any cognizable offence relating to above.
“Under this provision, 9,849 URLs/accounts/webpages, mostly on social media platforms, were blocked during the year 2020,” Mr. Prasad mentioned.
In response to query whether or not the federal government has carried out any examine relating to the influence of presidency’s management over social media vis-a-vis proper to freedom of expression enshrined within the structure, Prasad denied any such examine undertaken by the federal government.
He mentioned that the federal government welcomes criticism, dissent and in addition the rights of individuals to ask questions on social media.
“However, this needs to be acknowledged that the fundamental right of speech and expression under article 19(1) is also subject to reasonable restrictions under article 19(2) of the Constitution which can be imposed in the interest of security, safety and sovereignty of India, public order, friendly relations with foreign countries etc,” Mr. Prasad mentioned.
The minister mentioned it’s equally essential that social media shouldn’t be abused or misused to defame, promote terrorism, rampant violence and compromise the dignity of girls.
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