Centre reins in social media, says double standards must stop

While reiterating that the guidelines were meant to empowering social media users, Union Information Technology and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said there There should not be double standards on social media. 

The central government on Thursday issued new guidelines for OTT platforms and digital media which provides for an oversight mechanism where the government puts the onus on platforms to develop the mechanism to control content.
 

While reiterating that the guidelines were meant to empowering social media users, Union Information Technology and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said there There should not be double standards on social media. 
 

"If you can object to Capitol Hill, the same yardstick should apply with regard to the attack on Red Fort as well," Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Social media is welcome to do business in India, they have empowered people and democracy, the minister said, adding that platforms have to be more responsible and accountable to the laws of India.
 

"If they don't follow the laws of the land, action will be taken accordingly," he said. 
 

Explaining the rationale for rolling out the new guidelines, the minister said, "We have received complaints that some elements have been promoting criminal terrorist acts in the country. Over the years, there has been rampant abuse of social media. There is rampant spread of fake news. The new guidelines urge platforms to self-regulate."

Listing the features of new guidelines, there will be two social media namely a) social media intermediary b) and significant social media intermediary.
 

Significant social media intermediaries will have additional obligations like having a chief compliant officer, a nodal contact person and a resident grievance officer in India. 
 

If there are complaints with regard to the dignity of women, a significant social media intermediary will have to remove such content within 24 hours.
 

They will also have to file a monthly compliance report with regard to complaints received and action taken.

Listing out the number of people using these platforms, Ravi Shankar Prasad said India has 53 crore WhatsApp users, 48.3 crore YouTube users, 41 crore Facebook users, 21 crore Instagram users and 1.75 crore Twitter users.
 

The minister said that social media firms must identify the first "creator of the mischief tweet" when asked by a court or a government authority. 
 

"They will have to identify and inform. The condition applies even if the post originates outside India.

Social media platform must have provision for a voluntary verification mechanism.
 

If a significant social media intermediary disables/block any user, they will have to notify the user and list reasons why the action is being taken.
 

The new guidelines will come into force for significant social media intermediary with 3 months," he said.