Will Facebook and Twitter be logged out with new IT rules coming into effect?
If social media companies do not comply with the new guidelines, they may lose their status and protections as intermediaries and may become liable for criminal action based on the laws of the land
The government on February 25 issued strict guidelines for social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter. The deadline to comply with the Information Technology (Guidelines For Intermediaries And Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 ends on May 25.
Media reports suggest Facebook and Twitter are yet to adhere to the new rules. The new guidelines include creating systems to deal with grievances by users and monitoring harmful content.
If social media companies do not comply with the new guidelines, they may lose their status and protections as intermediaries and may become liable for criminal action based on the laws of the land.
Some platforms have asked for a six-month deadline, saying they were waiting for instructions from their headquarters in the US.
In a separate development, Delhi Police’s Special Cell teams on Monday raided the offices of Twitter India in Delhi and Gurgaon in connection with the probe into the alleged ‘Covid toolkit’ matter.
The Special Cell has sent a notice to Twitter in connection with an inquiry into a complaint regarding the alleged ‘Covid-19 toolkit’ and sought a clarification from the microblogging site for classifying a related tweet by BJP leader Sambit Patra as “manipulative”, an official said on Monday.