New Delhi: Clearing air over the appointment of a regulator for social media platforms, the federal government knowledgeable the Parliament that there isn’t a such proposal with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for a similar.
While talking within the Lok Sabha, Union IT and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad knowledgeable that the Centre has launched Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, beneath the IT Act that specifies the due diligence which must adhered by all of the intermediaries, together with social media platforms.
ALSO READ | ‘Will Not Contest West Bengal Assembly Elections’, Reveals BJP State Chief Dilip Ghosh
“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,” Prasad knowledgeable the Lok Sabha.
The data was shared by Prasad on the backdrop of latest laws introduced in place by the federal government for social media corporations like Facebook and Twitter in addition to OTT gamers resembling Netflix and Amazon Prime. The new guidelines ask social media corporations and OTT plaforms to to take away any content material flagged by authorities inside 36 hours and establishing a grievance redressal mechanism with an officer being based mostly within the nation.
Further in his explaination, Prasad additionally mentioned tat beneath provision of part 69A of the IT 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 overseas states or public order or for stopping incitement to the fee of any cognizable offence referring to above.
“Under this provision, 9,849 URLs/accounts/webpages, mostly on social media platforms, were blocked during the year 2020,” information company PTI quoted Prasad as saying within the decrease home.
ALSO READ | Zomato Delivery Case: Hitesha Chandranee Leaves Bengaluru Amid Probe
In response to query that if Centre has performed any examine relating to the influence of presidency’s management over social media vis-a-vis proper to freedom of expression, the senior BJP chief denied any such examine undertaken by the federal government.
Lastly, the minister mentioned it’s equally vital that social media shouldn’t be abused or misused to defame, promote terrorism, rampant violence and compromise the dignity of girls.
(With inputs from PTI)
