(Video) Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) The Big Picture: New IT Rules for Social Media Companies

Topic: New IT Rules for Social Media Companies

Guest:

Jiten Jain, (Online Content Analyst)
Karnika Seth, (Advocate, Cyber Law)
Prashant Mali, (Cyber & Privacy Policy Expert)
Munish Sharma, (Consultant, IDSA)

Topic Description:

The government is finalising new IT rules for social media companies that would mandate traceability of originator of information on such platforms and removal of malicious content within 24 hours of notice, Parliament was informed on Thursday. The proposed new norms include deployment of technology-based automated tools or appropriate mechanisms for proactively identifying and removing or disabling public access to unlawful information or content. In December last year, the information technology ministry had sought public feedback on amendments to IT Rules for social media platforms and messaging apps in a bid to curb misuse of such platforms for spreading fake news. Messaging giant WhatsApp has, in the past, drawn flak from the government on the issue of message traceability. The government has been asking the Facebook-owned company to find ways to identify originators of rogue messages but the US-based firm has resisted the demand citing privacy concerns.