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Why Facebook and Twitter Have Been Banned in India
Why Facebook and Twitter have been banned in India? Here are some reasons why. Protectionist policies, Lack of compliance with new IT rules, and a redressal officer. These are all factors that can affect a company’s reputation. But the most important reason for a ban is the protection it provides for sensitive information. And Facebook and Twitter were clearly not a suitable choice for India. However, this doesn’t mean that the two platforms are completely off the hook.
Protectionist policies
In a move that could threaten Facebook and Twitter’s existence, India’s government is considering banning them from its country. The move comes as the country strives to improve its Ease of Doing Business ranking. The new rules would require platforms to keep users’ data and use artificial intelligence to regulate content. This, of course, would compromise privacy and cybersecurity. Meanwhile, the country’s external affairs minister is meeting senior administration officials in the US to discuss the new laws.
WhatsApp and other messaging apps that allow users to send messages and photos to each other have jumped in popularity in recent months. WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, introduced new privacy policies earlier this year that would allow it to share data with Facebook and other group firms. On the same subject : How to Use Twitter For Marketing and Content Organisation. Signal and Telegram have exploded in popularity in India, but don’t have the massive user base of WhatsApp. As of writing, neither company has commented on the new rules or the traceability requirement.
While the government has not yet decided to ban Facebook and Twitter in India, the Indian government is unlikely to give up without a fight. By banning the platforms, India could lose its reputation and the credibility of its own citizens. Meanwhile, foreign companies may feel discouraged to do business in India if they are banned in the country. And if the government doesn’t do anything about it, the companies would be exposed to increased liability.
Lack of compliance with new IT rules
Social media companies have been buzzing on social networks in India, asking if the ban on them is due to lack of compliance with new IT rules. The government is looking into this issue and will likely question the companies to determine why the platforms are not complying with new rules as quickly as other countries. Read also : Who Unfollowed Me on Twitter?. The IT ministry compiles comparative reports of social media’s actions in different jurisdictions.
It is unclear exactly why the government is taking action against the social media firms, but if non-compliance continues, they could lose their intermediary status in the country. Without this protection, users can sue whoever posts content on their platforms. If they comply, they can continue to operate in the country. But the companies have fought the new rules, citing their need for “free speech” and “fair communication” as justification.
The new IT rules will require the platforms to keep data on their users, and they will likely require AI-based content regulation tools that will compromise the security of users. The government is also obsessed with improving the Ease of Doing Business in India, and banning these social media companies will make it harder for them to continue to do business in the country. And as for the ongoing showdown between MEITY and Twitter, the Indian government has taken one step in the right direction.
Lack of redressal officer
Facebook and Twitter have been under fire for denying users access to their services, in part because of the lack of redressal officers. The new rules imposed by the government mandate that each platform have a grievance officer. However, the social media companies have only appointed a grievance officer on paper, skirting the Indian law. This may interest you : How to DM on Twitter. Moreover, the grievance mechanisms for both Facebook and Twitter are automated, with no human intervention. The company’s response to user grievances is automatically sent through an automated process.
The Centre has warned Facebook and Twitter of stringent action, and has issued guidelines demanding the social media companies appoint a resident grievance officer, a chief compliance officer and a nodal contact person for the country. According to the guidelines, the social media firms must complete their designations by May 26, 2011, or face action under the Intermediary Guidelines and the Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021.
While the new regulations have not yet been finalized, social media companies have started negotiating with the government to comply with them. Twitter, Facebook, and Koo are the only social media applications that have complied. But the government has threatened to jail officials of these companies if they fail to comply with the new rules. A lack of redressal officer for Facebook and twitter ban in India
