The central government today announced new recommendations to curb situations of misuse of social media platforms. The recommendations, titled, ‘Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021’, come in the backdrop of allegations that social media platforms have been getting used to spread fake news, broadcast unethical content as properly as the most current privacy row produced due to WhatsApp’s new policy.
Union Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar addressed a press conference today announcing the measures.
Prasad stated that issues have been raised about rampant abuse of social media platforms like the spread of fake news and the new recommendations are aimed at curbing the rampant abuse and empowering ordinary customers of social media. He stated social media platforms are welcome to do enterprise in India but they want to adhere to the Constitution and laws of India.
Detailing the essential highlights of the new recommendations, Prasad stated, “Content involving nudity, morphed pictures of women have to be removed in 24 hours. Social media intermediaries will have to appoint a grievance officer, who shall register complaints within 24 hours. The platforms will be required to disclose the first originator of the mischief info on being asked by a court or the government. Grievance redressal official must be a resident in India and monthly compliance reports will have to be filed by social media platforms.”
He stated that social media platforms will have provision for voluntary verification of the user’s. Major social media firms will get a window of 3 months to implement the new guidelines, Prasad stated.
“The government welcomes criticism and right to dissent but it is very important for the users of social media to have a forum to raise their grievance against the misuse of social media,” stated Prasad.
On the other hand, Javadekar shared the detailed recommendations for OTT platforms. “We have decided to have a 3-stair mechanism for OTT platforms. OTT and digital news media will have to disclose their details….There should be a grievance redressal system in OTT platforms and digital portals. OTT platforms will have to have a self-regulating body, headed by retired Supreme Court or High Court judge or very eminent person in this category,” stated Javadekar.
OTT platforms will be necessary to classify their content based on age group. “For OTT, there should be self-classification of content – 13+, 16+ and A categories. There has to be a mechanism of parental lock and ensuring compliance that children don’t see that,” stated Javadekar.
He informed that there will be an oversight mechanism at the government level to deal with the circumstances wherein quick action is required.
Reacting to the new recommendations, Mayank Bidawataka, Co-founder at KOO, told .com, “Social media guidelines set forth under the Indian laws help clarify the responsibilities of intermediaries. We understand the need for these social media guidelines. Only a small fraction of the social media users are found to be making posts that may be against the laws of the land. The social media guidelines help make addressing these kinds of situations uniform across all social media platforms and ensure the safety of the majority of social media users across India.”
Bidawataka stated that enabling and sustaining freedom of speech is core to social media platforms. “We will continue to work in the best interest of our users at all times and ensure that they have a great experience. At the same time, we are committed to abiding by the laws of the land. This policy will help protect the interest of citizens at large and keep nefarious elements at bay,” he stated.