Facebook, Twitter to be blocked in India tomorrow? Here’s what will
happen with new IT rules after deadline.
It’s been reported that some social media platforms have asked for a
six-month deadline, saying they were awaiting instructions from their US
headquarters.
Meanwhile, industry experts believe that social media giants should
comply with new rules and government can also take a mid-ground.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified the
rules in the gazette on February 25 and asked social media companies (e.g.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Koo) to comply within three months. However,
the sources said that if the companies do not follow the rules, their status
as intermediaries may end, and they may be subject to criminal prosecution.
The deadline ends today on May 25, and reportedly only one company has
appointed such officials.
Barring Koo, none of the players including Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and
Instagram has complied with the new regulations. Meanwhile, Twitter said
they keep their own fact-checkers that neither identifies nor reveal how the
facts are being investigated. Also, Facebook aims to comply with the
provisions but wants to have more discussion with the government to maintain
freedom of speech.
“We aim to comply with the provisions of the IT rules and continue to
discuss a few of the issues which need more engagement with the government.
Pursuant to the IT Rules, we are working to implement operational processes
and improve efficiencies. Facebook remains committed to people’s ability to
freely and safely express themselves on our platform,” said a Facebook
spokesperson in an email to Times Now.
It’s been reported that some social media platforms have asked for a
six-month deadline, saying they were awaiting instructions from their US
headquarters. The rules, or the Information Technology (Intermediary
Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules), aim to make social media
companies more accountable. The rules include the appointment of the
supervisory mechanism will include a committee with representatives from
Defense, Foreign Affairs, Home, I&B, Law, Information Technology and
Development of Women and Children.
It will have ‘suo motu powers’ to call hearings on complaints of violation
of the Code of Ethics if it wants. The government will also designate an
officer of the rank of a Joint Secretary or above as the “Authorised
Officer” who can direct blocking of content.
Meanwhile, industry experts believe that social media giants must comply
with new IT rules and government can also take a mid-ground. These platforms
are now an integral part of digital media and should not be taken off.
“I think a mid-way needs to be figured out. While Facebook, Twitter
and other such platforms must comply with law of the land, these platforms
should not be taken off. These are integral and play a very important role
as well. We have recently seen how Twitter became the SOS helpline as the
cases were on the rise during the second wave. Similarly, how Facebook
is helping small-time businesses to go digital almost free of cost. A
small-time shopkeeper doesn’t even need to think of creating a website, can
simply have a product catalogue on the Facebook page and go hybrid in the
present situations where we have restricted mobility,” Faisal Kawoosa,
Founder and Chief Analyst, techARC told Times Now.
