Google, FB following new IT rules a big step towards transparency: Prasad

IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday lauded significant social media platforms such as Google Facebook and Instagram for publishing their first compliance report on voluntary removal of offensive posts as per new IT rules terming it a big step towards transparencyUnder the new IT rules large digital platforms that have over 5 million users are required to publish periodic compliance reports every month mentioning the details of complaints received and action taken thereonNice to see significant social media platforms like Google Facebook and Instagram following the new IT Rules First compliance report on voluntary removal of offensive posts published by them as per IT Rules is a big step towards transparency Prasad tweetedNice to see significant social media platforms like Google Facebook and Instagram following the new IT Rules First compliance report on voluntary removal of offensive posts published by them as per IT Rules is a big step towards transparency pictwittercomFhzUv4pHUpmdash Ravi Shankar Prasad rsprasad July 3 2021The publishing of compliance reports by Google Facebook and Instagram is bound to turn up the heat on Twitter which has been engaged in a tussle with the Indian government over the new social media rulesThe government has confronted Twitter for deliberate defiance and failure to comply with the countrys new IT rules and not appointing the requisite officers leading to it losing the safe harbour immunityFacebook on Friday said it actioned over 30 million content pieces across 10 violation categories during May 15June 15 in the country as the social media giant brought out its maiden monthly compliance report as mandated by the IT rulesAlso read Twitter brings security key as your only 2FA method to mobile webInstagram took action against about two million pieces across nine categories during the same periodActioned content refers to the number of pieces of content such as posts photos videos or comments where action has been taken for violation of standards Taking action could include removing a piece of content from Facebook or Instagram or covering photos or videos that may be disturbing to some audiences with a warningGoogle had stated that 27762 complaints were received by Google and YouTube in April this year from individual users in India over alleged violation of local laws or personal rights which resulted in removal of 59350 pieces of contentKoo in its report said it has proactively moderated 54235 content pieces while 5502 posts were reported by its users during JuneApart from publishing periodic compliance reports every month the rules also require disclosure on the number of specific communication links or parts of information that the intermediary has removed or disabled access to in pursuance of any proactive monitoring conducted by using automated toolsAccording to the IT rules that aim to curb blatant abuse and misuse of platforms the significant social media intermediaries are required to appoint a chief compliance officer a nodal officer and a grievance officer and these officials have to be resident in IndiaNoncompliance with the IT rules would result in these platforms losing their intermediary status that provides them immunity from liabilities over any thirdparty data hosted by themFacebook recently named Spoorthi Priya as its grievance officer in IndiaIndia is a major market for global digital platforms As per data cited by the government earlier this year India has 53 crore WhatsApp users 41 crore Facebook subscribers 21 crore Instagram clients while 175 crore account holders are on microblogging platform TwitterTwitters apparent heavy handedness has come under government scrutiny the microblogging platform has not complied with the new rules called intermediary guidelines that mandate setting up a robust grievance redressal mechanism and appointing officers to coordinate with law enforcementTwitter recently named Californiabased Jeremy Kessel as Indias grievance redressal officer on the platforms website although the appointment does not meet the requirements of new IT rules that clearly mandate key officers including the grievance officer to be resident in IndiaNotably Twitter has lost its legal shield as an intermediary in India becoming liable for users posting any unlawful contentAmid the standoff with the government over compliance with new IT rules the Twitter website on Monday had displayed a wrong map of India that showed Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as separate countryTwitter had removed the wrong map later that day after facing heavy backlash from netizensEven in the backdrop of heightened strained relations with the Indian government Twitter recently briefly blocked IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from accessing his own account over alleged violation of US copyright law a move that was immediately slammed by the minister as being arbitrary and in gross violation of IT rulesTwitter and the government have been on a collision course on multiple issues in the past months as well including during the farmers protest and later when the microblogging platform tagged political posts of several leaders of the ruling party BJP as manipulated media drawing a sharp rebuke from the CentreThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever