Centre points ‘one last notice’ to Twitter over compliance of social media guidelines

The Centre on Saturday, issued “one last notice” to Twitter over appointing India-based officers as per the nation’s new guidelines for social media firms, failing which, the federal government stated, it would face “consequences” as per the IT Act and different penal legal guidelines.
This comes amid an escalating standoff between the central authorities and the microblogging website.
“Twitter Inc. is hereby given one last notice to immediately comply with the Rules, failing which the exemption from liability available under section 79 of the IT Act, 2000 shall stand withdrawn and Twitter shall be liable for consequences as per the IT Act and other penal laws of India,” learn the letter from Rakesh Maheshwari, Group Coordinator, Cyber regulation, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Section 79 provides social media intermediaries immunity from authorized prosecution for content material posted on their platforms.

The discover signed by Rakesh Maheshwari, group coordinator of cyber regulation, Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, added: “The refusal to comply demonstrates Twitter’s lack of commitment and efforts towards providing a safe experience for the people of India on its platform. Despite being operational in India for more than a decade, it is beyond belief that Twitter Inc. has doggedly refused to create mechanisms that will enable the people of India to resolve their issues on the platform in a timely and transparent manner and through fair processes, by India based, clearly identified resources. Leave alone proactively creating such a mechanism, Twitter Inc. is in the inglorious bracket of refusing to do so even when mandated by law.”
As per the brand new tips issued in February, social media platforms had been requested to nominate a resident grievance officer, a chief compliance officer, and a nodal contact particular person as required by the federal government by May 26.
The transfer comes on a day when Twitter had briefly eliminated the “blue tick” verification badge from the non-public account of Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and different leaders additionally misplaced the verification badge.

Twitter has been concerned in a tussle with the Indian authorities since February after the Union expertise ministry requested it to dam content material alleging PM Modi’s administration was making an attempt to silence criticism associated to farmers’ protests within the nation.
Following that, India introduced new guidelines that purpose to make social media corporations extra accountable to authorized requests for swift elimination of posts and require the appointment of an Indian grievance officer to cope with complaints.
Last month, Twitter’s classification as “manipulated media” of the posts by BJP leaders had drawn a pointy response from the federal government. The controversy led to Twitter flagging considerations about freedom of expression and the protection of its employees in India after Delhi police visited its places of work within the nationwide capital.