Executive Says No Proposal to Appoint Regulator for Social Media

The federal government instructed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that there’s no proposal to nominate a regulator for social media.

In a written answer, Union Minister of Communications, Electronics and Data Era Ravi Shankar Prasad mentioned that social media will have to no longer be abused or misused to defame, advertise terrorism, rampant violence, and compromise the respect of ladies.

He mentioned social media platforms are enjoined to increase a strong complaint redress machine.

“The social media platforms, for the user-generated content material made to be had on their platforms, are intermediaries as outlined within the Data Era Act, 2000. Phase 79 of the Act supplies an exemption from legal responsibility to intermediaries, equipped they practice sure due diligence and are required to disable/take away illegal content material relatable to Article 19(2) of the Charter, on being notified through the proper executive or its company or via courtroom order,” he mentioned.

The minister mentioned with the intention to supply enhanced consumer protection as additionally the duty of social media platforms, the federal government has launched the Data Era (Middleman Pointers and Virtual Media Ethics Code) Regulations, 2021 underneath the Act that specifies the due diligence to be adopted through the entire intermediaries together with the social media intermediaries.

“The social media platforms are enjoined to increase a strong complaint redressal machine. At the moment, there’s no proposal with the Ministry of Electronics and Data Era to nominate a regulator for social media,” he mentioned.Prasad mentioned the federal government blocks illegal and malicious on-line content material underneath provisions of Data Era Act 2000, within the passion of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the protection of the state, pleasant family members with international states or public order or for combating incitement to any cognisable offence.

“Below this provision, 9849 URLs/accounts/webpages, most commonly on social media platforms, have been blocked all through the 12 months 2020,” he mentioned.

Prasad mentioned the federal government values freedom of speech and expression which is a basic proper underneath Article 19(1) of the Charter.

“The Executive welcomes complaint, dissent and likewise the rights of other people to invite questions about social media. On the other hand, this must be stated that the elemental proper of speech and expression underneath Article 19(1) could also be matter to affordable restrictions underneath Article 19(2) of the Charter. It’s similarly essential that social media will have to no longer be abused or misused to defame, advertise terrorism, rampant violence and compromise the respect of ladies,” Prasad mentioned. 

Has the Redmi Observe 10 Collection raised the bar within the funds telephone marketplace in India? We mentioned this on Orbital, our weekly era podcast, which you’ll subscribe to by means of Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, obtain the episode, or simply hit the play button underneath.