India has announced new regulations for social networks and other web services in the country, especially for “large social media companies”. They are with large user bases such as Facebook and Twitter. Now India sets stricter rules for social media giants due to some issues.
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) announced the rule early in the morning. They require social media companies to implement “complaint resolution mechanisms” for consumers, including a formal “complaint officer”. He acknowledges complaints within 24 hours and resolves them within 15 days.
The service must also remove nudity and sexually explicit content within 24 hours of being tagged by the user.
The “main intermediary on social media” faces additional responsibilities. These companies required to employ law enforcement officers in India and publish monthly reports on their moderation activities.
“Significant” message-oriented services also need to be prepared to identify the “first-time maker” of messages, a decision that is likely to target Facebook’s hugely popular service, WhatsApp.
Indian regulators previously asked WhatsApp to identify the source of the anonymous talk leading to violence, but WhatsApp said it would threaten end-to-end encryption.
India Framework to set strict rules
Framework for the rules
The framework also demonstrates that MEITY can regulate digital media services, including video streaming platforms, and that digital news services must follow with the official “rules of journalistic behavior” imposed by traditional media .India sets stricter rules for social media users.
According to the Wall Street Journal, MEITY chairman Ravi Shankar Prasad said the rules aimed at making social media companies “more responsible and accountable” for their platform content.
American social media companies are struggling to address problems of violence, hate speech and political conflict in India.
Facebook chief Ankhi Das resigned last year under pressure from activists. Earlier this month Twitter clashed with MEITY to block activists criticizing the Indian government.
Last year India tightened the general rules of foreign web companies. In June 2020, they banned TikTok and other Chinese social apps, citing threats to “national sovereignty”.
Last month, TikTok laid off its employees in India in what it described as a “massive withdrawal” from the country.