New IT Rules Notifies: The government has notified new IT rules to control illegal or objectionable content on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. According to the new rule, the content will have to be removed from its platforms as soon as possible after the government’s order. According to the new information technology rules passed on February 25, the social platform will have to remove the content to which the government will object, within a maximum of 36 hours of the government’s order. Earlier this deadline was 72 hours. According to the new rule, under the Information Technology (Guidance for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, social media companies will have to initiate an inquiry within 72 hours on the authority’s order.
Changes in the rules of IT
Along with this, companies will have to provide all necessary help in this matter. According to the new rules, social media platforms have to remove sexual act or conduct content within 24 hours of receiving the complaint. According to the new rules, with this new rule, India will be counted in those countries which are regulating big tech companies like Facebook, Twitter. The government has changed the rules of IT to control illegal or objectionable posts on social media. Under this rule, intermediaries like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Google are governed.
Such rules are applicable in many countries
Internationally also, in many countries there is a provision to remove illegal content within 36 hours. In many Western countries such rules are already in force. Intermediary guidelines under section 79 of the IT Act are being revised at a time when there is a concern within the government about increasing illegal content on social media platforms. Under the Information Technology Intermediaries Guidelines Rules, 2011, the government wants social media companies to be more responsible for removing illegal content from their platforms.
There was a dispute with Twitter
In fact, angry with the controversy with Twitter, the Indian government had planned to bring new rules to keep social media companies under control. In India too, during the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the three new agricultural laws, some of the tweets were the cause of unrest and the government had directed Twitter to remove them and ban such Twitter handles. Twitter had refused to accept the government’s order citing various rules.
Efforts are being made by various countries across the world to control powerful tech companies. Facebook itself faced a confrontation with the government in Australia last week on the issue of revenue sharing. Facebook had to face criticism all over the world for banning news in Australia on its platform.
Control over web series content too
The government has prepared the ‘Intermediate Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code’. These rules will also curb the arbitrariness of social media companies like Facebook-Twitter, as well as web entertainment platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. The new rules make it mandatory to provide age related ratings and advice along with web series content.