From today, social media firms lose legal protection over third-party content
Pankaj.Doval@timesgroup.com
New Delhi:26.05.2021
Large socialmedia companies such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp lose legal protection for the user content posted on their platforms from today (Wednesday), and stand answerable to Indian civil and criminal laws just like any other ordinary citizen or local entity.
Till yesterday (Tuesday), they enjoyed immunity when it came to the content posted by any third-party user on their platforms.
The only obligation on them was to take down any illegal content that they noticed on their own, or when it was highlighted to them by the state, or the courts, or any responsible/aggrieved party.
Now it’s a civil and criminal liability on them for any illegal post. The companies, clearly unnerved by the new rules for large social-media intermediaries – that were announced on February 25 this year – may opt for a legal challenge to protect their officials as well as operations in India, in case the government does not grant an extension in implementation of the norms (they were given three months to prepare for the new regime).
“However, a constructive dialogue with the government still remains to be the first choice, and any decision to approach the courts comes in only later,” company officials told TOI, on condition of anonymity.
Full report on www.toi.in
‘Working to fall in line with new IT rules’
New Delhi:
As social media and internet companies enter a new regulatory regime in India, top players such as Facebook (that runs Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) and Google (Google, YouTube, Blogger.com) said they are taking steps to fall in line even while discussing the matter further with the government, reports Pankaj Doval. A spokesperson for Facebook said, “We aim to comply with the provisions of the IT rules and continue to discuss a few of the issues which need more engagement with the government. ”
Full report on www.toi.in
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