govt-to-impose-stricter-laws-on-social-media-platforms-it-minister

The government is set to introduce stringent laws and measures to hold social media platforms accountable for any defamatory content shared on their platforms, announced IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

 

In response to supplementary questions during the question hour, the minister emphasised the need to amend intermediary rules for social media platforms to address the growing concerns of misinformation and deep fake content.

 

"We are amending the intermediary rules due to the emergence of deep fake issues on a significant scale," stated the minister, underlining the urgency to combat the spread of misinformation and deep fakes. 

 

The proposed amendments aim to assign significant responsibility to social media platforms to detect and take prompt action against deep fakes and misinformation.

 

Vaishnaw highlighted that social media platforms are no longer mere platforms as they were three decades ago, with most platforms already moderating content. 

 

He noted the global consensus among regulatory bodies on the need for increased responsibility from social media platforms regarding content moderation.

 

The government is in the process of establishing an institutional framework for the digital economy, consisting of new legislations and regulations, Vaishnaw explained. 

 

He cited the passage of the Telecom Bill and the Personal Data Protection Bill in the house, with another bill under development.

 

Regarding concerns raised by Rajeev Shukla of the Congress about the misuse of social media, Vaishnaw reiterated the importance of holding social media platforms accountable for defamatory content.

 

He stressed the need for consensus among members of the Upper House to develop mechanisms for the removal of fake or defamatory material from social media platforms.

 

Recognizing the positive impact of social media on society, the minister emphasised the collective responsibility to address its negative aspects.

 

The IT Minister called for the enactment of stricter laws to ensure the responsible use of social media platforms.