Tough norms for social media, OTT platforms

New Delhi, February 25

The government on Thursday announced regulations for social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter as well as OTT players such as Netflix, requiring them to remove any content flagged by the authorities within 36 hours and set up a complaint redressal mechanism with an officer based in the country.

Grievance redressal system a must, Govt tells firms

• Firms will have to set up a complaint redressal mechanism with an officer based in the country
• Publish a monthly compliance report disclosing details of complaints received and action taken
• OTT platforms to self-classify content into five age-based categories; move by govt weeks after spat with Twitter

Will curb fake news

Concerns have been raised over rampant abuse of social media platforms and fake news. — Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister

As part of the norms, titled Digital Media Ethics Code, the government can ask the social platforms to reveal the originator of a message the authorities consider to be anti-national and against the security and sovereignty of the country. This is the first time such rules have been framed for digital and online media. The development comes weeks after a spat between the government and Twitter over certain messages around farmers’ protests that the government saw as inciting violence. “There has been rampant misuse of social media. The medium is being used by terrorists and criminals, even those sitting across the border,” said Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The government has proposed voluntary verification of users and asked the firms to have a compliance officer, grievance officer and a nodal officer, all based in India.

The digital news media has been brought under the purview of Information Technology Act. OTT platforms will have a self-regulating body and classify content based on viewers’ age. — TNS

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