As per the new Information Technology rules released by the Indian government, social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and others have to remove content on their platforms as early as possible or within 36 hours after the government issues a legal notice.
These companies have also been informed to provide information regarding the violations that have been spotted on their respective platforms and also have to help with the investigations within 72 hours of a request by the authorities.
These platforms also have to inform the Indian government about the origin of the account, tweet, post that violates any of the new rules and guidelines.
What do the new rules say?
Minister of Information and Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad said that social media platforms must remove content that depicts an individual in a sexual act or conduct or any form of nudity is being displayed on the platform within 24 hours.
With these new rules, India is looking to regulate some of the questionable content that is being posted on these social media platforms, a practice that is also being followed by other big nations.
Just recently, Twitter had been ordered by the Indian government to take down certain posts and accounts which it though could provoke masses and lead to violence amid farmers protests.
Social media, OTT platforms need to take responsibility
The order also says that these social media platforms and their intermediaries should also publish their rules, regulations and privacy policy on their website and app.
The order goes on to add that the intermediary should also inform the user not to host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share any information that is false, misleading and defamatory in nature.
These platforms also need to inform the users not to publish any information that may pose as being harmful to minors, infringes patents and violated the law.
Also, content that threatens unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign states.
