Twitter says it’s concerned about intimidation tactics by police in India
This comes at a time when tension has been brewing between the social media giant and the Modi government due to the ‘tookit’ controversy and new IT rules. Updated May 27, 2021 · 06:32 pm Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. | Jim Watson/AFP
Twitter on Thursday said it was concerned about the “potential threat” to freedom of expression as India’s new social media rules came into effect. The social media firm also flagged “intimidation tactics”, days after the Delhi Police Special Cell visited it’s office in connection with the “toolkit” controversy, NDTV reported.
Social Media Rules: New websites were required to get registered on I&B Ministry site (Representational)
Highlights
Rules bring in Code of Ethics, three-tier grievance redressal
Law brings news websites under the rules for Press Council
New Delhi:
Online news publishers and OTT platforms have been given 15 days by the Information and the Broadcasting ministry to provide details on compliance with the new digital media rules issued in February. Yesterday, social media platforms were asked for similar compliance reports and given 24 hours. Several platforms have filed appeals that are pending in various courts.
In February, the Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 had outlined for the first time how digital news organisations, social media platforms and OTT streaming services like Netflix will be regulated by the government.
WhatsApp has pleaded before the Delhi High Court to declare one of the new rules a violation of privacy rights as it requires social media companies to identify the first originator of information when authorities demand it.
Govt, on Feb. 25, notified Rules, giving them 3 months for compliance
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has written to all significant social media intermediaries who have over 50 lakh registered users in the country, requesting details of compliance with the new guidelines that came into effect on Wednesday, despite several requests of extension from the industry.
In a letter dated May 26, the ministry has sought confirmation and details, including contact details of the chief compliance officer, nodal contact person and resident grievance officer, “ASAP and preferably today itself”, from all significant social media intermediaries (SSMIs).
The Union government, on February 25, notified the ‘The Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021’, giving the SSMIs three months for compliance.