Government’s strictness on Social Media and OTT, action will be taken against fake content, know all the rules in 10 points

Social Media and OTT Platforms Rules: The Central Government has imposed strict accountability on social media and OTT platforms to prevent obscenity, misinformation and cyber crimes. The government’s focus is on creating a safe, reliable and accountable internet (especially for the safety of women and children), legal screws have been tightened on digital platforms under the IT Act 2000, IT Rules 2021 and the Indian Judicial Code. The government has made it clear that strict action will be taken against those who do not follow the rules.

Open and Safe Internet is the priority of the government

The government has said that its policies are aimed at creating an open, safe and reliable internet in India. In this, special emphasis has been laid on protecting women and children from online harm. The government also wants to ensure that no illegal, obscene or misleading content is circulated on the internet. Steps have been taken in this direction at both legal and administrative levels.

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There will be strict monitoring through IT Act 2000 and IT Rules 2021

The responsibility of the digital platform has been fixed under the IT Act 2000 and IT Rules 2021. These laws have provisions for punishment for obscene content, privacy violations and cyber crimes. Police have also been given powers to investigate, search and arrest. Through IT Rules 2021, companies have been given a clear responsibility to stop and remove illegal content.

Content will have to be removed within stipulated time

According to IT Rules 2021, it is necessary to remove any illegal content within the stipulated time on the instructions of the court or the government. It is mandatory to remove content related to privacy, fake identity or nudity within 24 hours. Every platform will have to appoint a Grievance Officer and resolve the complaint within 72 hours. If the platform does not do this then the user can appeal to the Grievance Appellate Committee.

Additional responsibility on Facebook-Instagram-X

Social media platforms which have more than 50 lakh users in India have been considered as Significant Social Media Intermediaries. It is mandatory for such platforms to appoint local officers in India, issue compliance reports and cooperate with law agencies. In serious cases, help will also have to be provided in tracing the address of the person sending the message. If they do not follow the rules, they will not get the legal protection of the IT Act.

Government’s strict stance on OTT platform also

Code of Ethics has been implemented in Part-III of IT Rules 2021 for OTT platforms. OTT platforms are not allowed to show any content that is against the law. The government has so far blocked 43 OTT platforms in India for showing obscene content. This information was given by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. L. Murugan gave this in the Lok Sabha, which clearly shows that the government is constantly keeping an eye on the OTT sector.

Know what changes happened in 10 points

• The government has made Safe, Trusted and Accountable Internet the main objective of the policy, especially emphasis has been given on the safety of women and children.
• Under the IT Act 2000 and IT Rules 2021, provision has been made for strict action against obscene, misleading and illegal online content.
• It will now be mandatory to prevent social media platforms from hosting or sharing obscene, pornographic, hateful and misleading content.
• Deepfake, AI-generated fake identity and impersonation content is explicitly banned.
  It is now a legal responsibility to remove illegal content within the stipulated time on the orders of the court or the government.
• It has been made mandatory to remove content related to nudity, privacy violation and fake identity within 24 hours.
• Every digital platform will have to appoint a Grievance Officer and it will be necessary to resolve the complaint within 72 hours.
• The rule of appointing local officers and issuing compliance reports for platforms with more than 50 lakh users has come into force in India.
• Social media companies will have to help investigating agencies in tracing the originator of messages related to serious crimes.
• OTT platforms also have to follow the Code of Ethics and the platform can be blocked in India if it shows content that is against the law.