Government Says No Proposal to Appoint Regulator for Social Media

The authorities advised the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that there is no such thing as a proposal to appoint a regulator for social media.

In a written reply, Union Minister of Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad stated that social media shouldn’t be abused or misused to defame, promote terrorism, rampant violence, and compromise the dignity of girls.

He stated social media platforms are enjoined to develop a sturdy grievance redress system.

“The social media platforms, for the user-generated content made available on their platforms, are intermediaries as defined in the Information Technology Act, 2000. Section 79 of the Act provides an exemption from liability to intermediaries, provided they follow certain due diligence and are required to disable/remove unlawful content relatable to Article 19(2) of the Constitution, on being notified by the appropriate government or its agency or through court order,” he stated.

The minister stated so as to present enhanced consumer security as additionally the accountability of social media platforms, the federal government has launched the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 below the 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,” he stated.Prasad stated the federal government blocks illegal and malicious on-line content material below provisions of Information Technology Act 2000, within the curiosity of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the safety of the state, pleasant relations with international states or public order or for stopping incitement to any cognisable offence.

“Under this provision, 9849 URLs/accounts/webpages, mostly on social media platforms, were blocked during the year 2020,” he stated.

Prasad stated the federal government values freedom of speech and expression which is a basic proper below Article 19(1) of the Constitution.

“The Government welcomes criticism, dissent and also the rights of people 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. It is equally important that social media should not be abused or misused to defame, promote terrorism, rampant violence and compromise the dignity of women,” Prasad stated. 

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