No Proposal In IT Ministry To Appoint Regulator For Social Media, OTT Platforms: Ravi Shankar Prasad

"The social media platforms are enjoined to develop a robust grievance redressal system. Presently, there is no proposal with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to appoint a regulator for social media," Prasad informed the Lok Sabha.

New Delhi: Clearing air over the appointment of a regulator for social media platforms, the government informed the Parliament that there is no such proposal with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for the same.

While speaking in the Lok Sabha, Union IT and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed that the Centre has released Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, under the IT Act that specifies the due diligence which needs to adhered by all the intermediaries, including social media platforms.

"The social media platforms are enjoined to develop a robust grievance redressal system. Presently, there is no proposal with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to appoint a regulator for social media," Prasad informed the Lok Sabha.

The information was shared by Prasad on the backdrop of new regulations brought in place by the government for social media firms like Facebook and Twitter as well as OTT players such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. The new rules ask social media firms and OTT plaforms to to remove any content flagged by authorities within 36 hours and setting up a complaint redressal mechanism with an officer being based in the country.

Further in his explaination, Prasad also said tat under provision of section 69A of the IT Act, 2000, the government blocks unlawful and malicious online content including social media account, in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above.

"Under this provision, 9,849 URLs/accounts/webpages, mostly on social media platforms, were blocked during the year 2020," news agency PTI quoted Prasad as saying in the lower house.

In response to question that if Centre has conducted any study regarding the impact of government's control over social media vis-a-vis right to freedom of expression, the senior BJP leader denied any such study undertaken by the government.

Lastly, the minister said it is equally important that social media should not be abused or misused to defame, promote terrorism, rampant violence and compromise the dignity of women.

(With inputs from PTI)