Centre Announces New Guidelines to Curb Misuse of Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms upon being asked either by a court order or a govt authority will be required to disclose the first originator of tweet or message

Published on:

25 Feb 2021, 3:34 am

NEW DELHI: The BJP led centre have announced a new set of guidelines to curb misuse of social media platforms.

Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad speaking in a press conference said that social media platforms upon being asked either by a court order or a govt authority will be required to disclose the first originator of a mischievous tweet or message as the case may be.

Further, the minister added that this should be only in relation to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, public order, relations with foreign states, or rape, sexually explicit content etc.

Social media platforms upon being asked either by a court order or a govt authority will be required to disclose the first originator of mischievous tweet or message as the case may be: Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad (1/2) pic.twitter.com/PLIxLJdVtg
— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2021

This should be only in relation to sovereignty & integrity of India, the security of the state, public order, relations with foreign states, or rape, sexually explicit content etc: Union Electronics & Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad (2/2)
— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2021

Earlier in a notification, social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube will have to share users' identities with the Indian government if they are asked to.

Meanwhile, Social media intermediaries have to appoint a grievance officer, who shall register complaints in 24 hours.

Under new guidelines, the Centre will be able to procure information of any user without a warrant or judicial order against the person. Further, content involving nudity, morphed pictures of women have to be removed in 24 hours.

According to the guidelines noted in the earlier draft, all social media sites will have to help the government trace the origins of a post within 72 hours. The companies would have to retrieve the data for 180 days that will help government sleuths in the investigation.

The rules will cover all social media platforms and messaging apps with more than five million users. However, the Centre is yet to mention if foreign tourists will also come under scrutiny while visiting India.

It is to be mentioned that India has seen a surge in the number of fake news items in circulation, especially on WhatsApp and Facebook.

This is a developing story..

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