(Video) Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) The Big Picture: Rules for Social Media

Topic: Rules for Social Media

Guest:

Abhishek Singh, (CEO, NeGD, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India)
J. Sai Deepak, (Advocate, Supreme Court)
Rameesh Kailasam, (CEO, IndiaTech.Org)

Topic Description:

Amid the ongoing row with Twitter over the delay in the suspension of several accounts, the Union government on Thursday informed Parliament that it is in the process of amending rules pertaining to the Information and Technology sector so that social media platforms could be made more responsive and accountable to Indian laws. The government stated that the new rules will also ensure digital media platforms adhere to the Code of Ethics. The announcement came shortly after Union Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Rajya Sabha that the government will not shy away from acting against social media platforms if they are misused to spread fake news and incite violence. A spat has been going on between Twitter and the Indian government over a suspension list, which contains mention of over 1000 accounts that need to be suspended or at least blocked in India for spreading fake news and hatred on ongoing farmers’ protest in the country. The social media firm has refused to act against all the accounts mentioned in the list, stating that it will not suspend accounts that belong to the media, journalists and activists to uphold freedom of speech and expression.