Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted this afternoon about the new IT rules. (file photo)
New Delhi:
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said this afternoon that the removal of “objectionable posts” by social media giants like Google, Facebook and Instagram after the government’s new IT rules come into force is “a big step towards transparency”.
Facebook took action against more than 30 million posts, while Facebook-owned photo-sharing app Instagram took action against nearly two million posts between May 15 and June 15. news agency PTI reported, citing Facebook’s first compliance report.
Search engine Google removed 59,350 links from its products, including YouTube.
Domestic social media app Ku said in its report that it has processed 1,253 out of 5,502 complaints.
Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted today, “Great to see important social media platforms like Google, Facebook and Instagram complying with the new IT regulations. First compliance report on voluntarily deleting objectionable posts published by them as per IT rules. A big step in that direction.”
It is good to see important social media platforms like Google, Facebook and Instagram complying with the new IT regulations. The first compliance report on voluntary removal of objectionable posts published by them as per IT rules is a major step towards transparency. pic.twitter.com/FhzUv4pHUp
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) 3 July 2021
New IT rules make social media websites, which have more than 5 million users, more accountable for third-party content for the first time.
These firms will now have to publish monthly reports with details of complaints received and action taken. Taking action may include removing a section of content or covering up photos or videos that may disturb some viewers, with a warning.
The social media giant is also required to appoint a Chief Compliance Officer, a Nodal Officer and a Grievance Officer and these officers need to be Indian residents.
The Union minister’s remarks come as trouble mounts for Twitter, which recently appointed Jeremy Kessel, Director of Global Legal Policy for India, as a Grievance Officer to comply with the new rules.
Ravi Shankar Prasad did not mention Twitter in his tweet.
Four cases have been registered against Twitter so far after the new rules came into force – two in Uttar Pradesh, one in Madhya Pradesh and one in Delhi.
Critics have raised concerns that Twitter may no longer enjoy protection against user-generated content.
With over 624 million users, India has one of the largest number of internet users in the world. According to rough estimates, there are more than 448 million social media users in the country.
(with inputs from PTI)
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