Google, FB, WhatsApp Share Details With IT Ministry; Twitter Yet To Follow
Mumbai: In a recent development, social media giants Facebook, Google and WhatsApp have finally agreed to follow the new IT rules of the Indian government.
As per the guidelines, these companies have announced the appointment of statutory officers which was mandatory under the IT (Intermediate Guidelines and Digital Media Code of Conduct) Rules, 2021.
According to a report, all three along with Koo, Sharchat, Telegram and LinkedIn have submitted names of these nodal officers to the concerned authority, but Twitter hasn’t yet sent details.
“Most of the major social media intermediaries, including Koo, Sharechat, Telegram, LinkedIn, Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc., on Friday shared details of their Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), Nodal Contact Person (NCP), and Grievance Officer (GO) with the Union Electronics and IT Ministry as required by the new I-T (Intermediary Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics Code) rules, sources informed. However, the sources added that micro-blogging site Twitter is still not following the rules,” reported ANI on Friday.
However, Twitter has not yet complied with the IT rules, they said.
The rules require that these designated officers of important social media companies be employees of the company and resident in India. Sources further said that Twitter has not yet sent the details of the Chief Compliance Officer to the ministry.
Following the government’s strong response, Twitter sent a communication, sharing details of a lawyer working as a nodal contact person and complaint officer at a law firm in India.
Under the new rules, social media companies such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter are required to take additional precautions including identifying a promoter of a flagged message within 36 hours, as well as the appointment of a chief compliance officer, nodal contact person and resident grievance officer.
The Centre has said that the new rules have been framed to prevent misuse and misuse of the platform and to provide a strong platform to the users for grievance redressal.
Not following the rules will result in these platforms losing their intermediary status which gives them immunity from liabilities on any third party data hosted by them. In other words, they may be liable for criminal action in case of complaints
After the new norms came into effect on May 26, the IT Ministry had turned up the heat on significant social media companies, asking them to immediately report compliance and provide details of the three key officials appointed.
(With Agency Inputs)
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