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Why Facebook and Twitter Are Banned in India
The government’s latest move in banning Facebook and Twitter from the country is unlikely to be enforced. Social media companies could go to court to challenge the guidelines and the government would prefer to avoid this. The government will probably issue FAQs on its guidelines. If it fails to do so, the Ministry of Electronics and IT may extend the deadline. In the meantime, the government has no immediate plans to shut down the social networks.
Social media platforms must set up a complaint redressal system exclusively for India
Indian authorities have announced new regulations for social networks and web services, including Facebook and Twitter. These rules come after a spat between the government and Twitter, which sought the removal of 1,500 messages and accounts. Twitter complied only after being threatened with penal action. The new regulations also require “significant social media intermediaries” to set up a complaint redressal system specifically for India. Additionally, the new regulations require that these platforms appoint India-based officials to monitor moderation activity, and publish a monthly report on their moderation activities.
As India’s digital eco-system and Internet user base grows, new regulations are needed to ensure that users are treated fairly. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules require social media platforms to appoint a grievance officer to handle complaints. The grievance officer must acknowledge complaints within 24 hours and resolve them within 15 days. This may interest you : The Lowdown On The Different Types Of Twitter Ads. If the platform still does not resolve complaints in a timely fashion, users can proceed to the high court. But this can be time-consuming and expensive, so a grievance appeals process was required for users.
They may be charged with sedition
Using Facebook or Twitter to make controversial political statements? These platforms may be liable to sedition charges. In India, a 25-year-old man was arrested last week for making derogatory remarks about the state government of Haryana, the BJP, and the RSS. Read also : How to Get Twitter Link. A Kashmiri engineer was arrested after liking posts advocating the withdrawal of the Indian army from Kashmir. Another Malyali writer was arrested for insulting the National Anthem, and a free-speech activist was arrested for mocking the Parliament.
Despite the wide scope of social media, it is unclear whether the Indian government will enforce it. However, the Indian government has passed a new law dealing with sedition, Section 124A. These laws are designed to target any type of speech that can be considered threatening to the government. A recent case in Karnataka involved a local mobile shop employee who had set up a Facebook account and joined a village-level Whatsapp group.
They are protected from liability
Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are not liable for what their users say, but that doesn’t mean they should be liable for a single post. US law currently protects tech companies from liability for user content, and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects them from legal action, too. However, the Indian government considers that protection unwarranted. This may interest you : Why Does Elon Musk Want Twitter to Continue to Exist?. Twitter executives in India could be sued for allegedly posting violent comments, and at least five cases have been filed against the company. A recent surprise visit by Indian police to Twitter’s offices led to a furious response from Twitter executives, who described the visit as intimidation.
The new IT rules imposed by the Indian government have removed the immunity the major social media companies have enjoyed for third-party content. Under the previous laws, these companies only had to remove content that was illegal after a complaint was lodged with the government or highlighted by a state or court. But the new rules imposed by the IT ministry require the companies to take down content that violates the law. In fact, the new rules require these companies to hire a chief compliance officer and a grievance officer.
They are not subject to punishment
While the EU has warned that social media platforms cannot be penalized in India, there is a looming threat to their intermediary status. This status protects them from third-party liability. If social media platforms fail to comply with these regulations, they could be punished. However, in the meantime, they will be free to operate as usual. Unless there are serious violations of the new rules, it’s unlikely that the companies will be punished in India.
The debate over whether social media platforms should be punished in India is playing out in the US as well. While the US government is more aggressive in pursuing tech companies to censor harmful content, India is taking a different approach. As the world’s largest democracy, India’s constitution protects free speech and excludes defamatory content. The Indian government has also been vocal in its attempts to pressure social media companies to remove content.
They are not subject to penalties
There are a few reasons why the Indian government may want to ban Facebook and Twitter in the country. Whether these companies are responsible for causing a problem will depend on whether or not they abide by the new rules. Experts say that the government will not ban social media apps outright but it could levy fines or prevent them from doing business in the country. But until then, these social media platforms are not subject to penalties in India.
The Indian government has warned Twitter that it could be held directly responsible for the content posted on its site. Twitter says it follows the law in India and blocks any content that violates the country’s laws. However, the government has threatened to jail Twitter employees if the companies do not comply. Twitter has not yet responded to the threats, saying it is still working with the local authorities. However, it is not a good idea to ignore government pressure.
