Social media has become the new norm of the day. People use it not only for social networking but at the same time help people express their views on various issues. As the top social media giants are becoming the common platforms to air political views, the government now is planning to regular the content especially on the bigger social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and others. The fact of the matter is the government intends to change the proposed rules for online content policy. This includes like introducing some tougher rules and measures and takes way the rules over the bigger social media firms claimed the senior government official.
In the year 2018m we see the IT and Electronics Ministry was seen proposing to make changes the IT Rues that fall under the Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 when it comes to make the social media companies more accountable when it comes to posting for content, which they host. Currently, we see the IT Act offering a legal solution for the technology intermediaries. The industry associations along with the cloud companies that are seen objecting to the proposed rules, which tend to apply over the technology platforms despite the fact these are framed to tackle the issue of fake news over social media.
The said rules are only restricted to social media content, while the other eCommerce/streaming technology companies like Netflix and Amazon, which would worry a lot about the content takedown along with the issue of traceability claimed the grievance officer. The IT industry lobby group called Nasscom where we have companies like Amazon Web Services that last year, which the rules should apply over the social media companies and not to technology intermediaries like the cloud platforms over the IT and BPM or business process management sectors.
Talking about the intermediaries, the AMS is supposed to bear the cost of complying with provisions, which do not even apply to them. The social media companies like Facebook, YouTube and TikTok are seen among the companies, which are expected to put an impact by the changes added over the guidelines. As per the notifications of the new rules that are seen coming by Jan 15 claimed the affidavit of the Supreme Court last year by the MeitY group.
The earlier proposed mandate that was seen coming for the companies to trace along with reporting over the origin of the message within 72 hours of getting the complaint claims the law enforcement groups. They are now going with the help of disabling access within the set 24 hours to content for the deemed defamatory or against the national security over the Article 19 of the constitution on the National Security issue. Besides, one can see all the platforms coming out with five million of users that are required to come along with around the five million users that would be needed to have a registered entity over India under the act of Companies Act.