Warned Of Consequences Amid Delay, Twitter Seeks More Time To Comply With New IT Rules: Sources

“Twitter has written to Meity seeking more time to comply with the IT rules. It has expressed its intent to comply with the rules but has been unable to do so because of the pandemic,” PTI quoted a source as saying.

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New Delhi: Days after the Indian Government sent a final notice to Twitter asking it to abide by the norms under the new IT rules or face consequences over non-compliance, the social media platform is learnt to have sought more time from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to comply with the new IT rules.

“Twitter has written to Meity seeking more time to comply with the IT rules. It has expressed its intent to comply with the rules but has been unable to do so because of the pandemic,” PTI quoted a source as saying.

Asserting the social media platform has been and remains deeply committed to India, a Twitter spokesperson said: “We have assured the Government of India that Twitter is making every effort to comply with the new guidelines, and an overview on our progress has been duly shared. We will continue our constructive dialogue with the Indian Government.”

The response from Twitter comes as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had last week in a strong-worded letter wrote that “till date, Twitter has not informed about the details of the chief compliance officer as required under the rules”.

“Further, Resident grievance officer and nodal contact person nominated by you is not an employee of Twitter Inc. in India as prescribed by the rule. The office address of Twitter Inc as mentioned by you is that of a law firm in India which is also not as per the rules,” the ministry added.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology stressed that after more than a week, Twitter continues to refuse to comply with the provisions of these rules.

“Needless to state such non-compliance will lead to unintended consequences including Twitter losing exemption from liability as intermediary available under section 79 of the Information Technology (IT) act 2000,” the ministry warned.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said the refusal to comply demonstrates Twitter's lack of commitment and efforts towards providing a safe environment experience for Indian users on its platform.

READ: IT Rules: Govt Sends Final Notice To Twitter, Warns Of Consequences Over Non-Compliance | Know All About It

“Despite being operational in India for more than a decade it is beyond belief that Twitter Inc has doggedly refused to create mechanisms that will enable the people of India to resolve their issues on the platform in a timely and transparent manner and through a fair process by India based clearly identified resources. Leave alone proactively creating such a mechanism, Twitter Inc. is in the inglorious bracket of refusing to do so even when mandated by law,” the ministry wrote criticising the micro-blogging platform.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology emphasised that Indian users deserve and demand a fair mechanism to address their grievances and resolve disputes.

“Users who are abused on the platform or harassed or are subject to defamation of sexual abuse or become victims or a whole range of other abusive content must get a redressal mechanism that the same people of India have created through a due process of law,” the ministry wrote.