India's social media intermediary guidelines are meant to provide a grievance redressal mechanism to ordinary users, Union Minister of Electronics and IT, Ravi Shankar Prasad said in an interview. He also said WhatsApp will have to find a technical solution on traceability and that lay users have nothing to fear about breach of privacy.
The minister further said that social media platforms must comply with India’s IT rules, as they have a “responsibility” towards users and that the guidelines provide a robust grievance redressal mechanism.
From May 26, the rule kicked in. We had given three months’ notice. Our approach has been firm and persuasive. As per Rule 7 - when an intermediary fails to observe these rules, the provisions of Section 79 (of the IT Act) will not be applicable, which is the safe harbour provision for the intermediary. The intermediary shall be liable for punishment (for the content on their platform) otherwise under the Indian Penal Code.
Prasad said, they are free to do business here, earn profit here. Let them criticise the PM, me or government no problem. They do it daily… Many of the posts designed to allow vaccine hesitancy, why did you allow it?
The minister further said, I’m sick of hearing this. The problem of technology is solved by technology. A large number of academics are coming (to us), saying we can show how it can be (done) without impinging (upon) encryption.
Lastly, he responds to the query on will you ban companies that do not comply, He said, I will not discuss what action I will take here. If they are obliged to follow the rules, they must follow.
