During a press conference saying about the new social media rules, Ravi Shankar Prasad , Minister of Electronics and Information Technology said that , the content that exposes private parts of individuals or involves sexual act has to be removed within 24 hours of a complaint. "This is designed to respect dignity of women," Prasad added.
The content including nudity, morphed pictures of women have to be removed in 24 hrs: Prasad on new social media rules. Such a complaint can be filed either by the individual or by any other person on his/her behalf.
Intermediaries shall remove or disable access within 24 hours of receipt of complaints of contents that exposes the private areas of individuals, show such individuals in full or partial nudity or in sexual act or is in the nature of impersonation including morphed images etc.
Prasad said that concerns have been raised about rampant abuse of social media platforms including the spread of fake news and the new guidelines are aimed at curbing the rampant abuse and empowering ordinary users of social media. He said social media platforms are welcome to do business in India but they need to follow the Constitution and laws of India.
The platforms will be required to disclose the first originator of the mischief info on being asked by a court or the government. Grievance redressal official must be a resident in India and monthly compliance reports will have to be filed by social media platforms.”
He said that social media platforms will have provision for voluntary verification of the user’s. Major social media companies will get a window of three months to implement the new rules, Prasad said.
