Government Advises Social Media platforms to comply with rules of Face Consequences

In the last few years, cases of spreading misinformation through social media have increased. There are also cases of making fake videos and making them viral using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The central government has made preparations to deal with this. In this context, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued an advisory to social media and other intermediaries asking them to ensure compliance with the existing IT rules.

State Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that a formal advisory has been issued in this regard. It provides information about the processes that ensure that users on social media platforms do not violate the content prohibited under Rule 3 (1) (b). “If information or report of such violations is received, action will be taken as per law,” he said. He said that the ministry will closely monitor the compliance of these rules by the intermediaries.

It has been said in this advisory that users should be given clear information about the content which is not allowed under the IT rules. Last month, the central government had warned Facebook and YouTube about deepfakes. Social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube were told that deepfakes and posting content that spreads obscenity or misinformation are banned under the country's law.

In a Reuters report, quoting sources, it was said that this warning was given to these companies in a meeting. Regarding this, Chandrashekhar had said that many social media companies have not updated the terms and conditions for their users despite the rules implemented last year. Under these rules, content that is harmful to children, obscene or imitating another person is banned. He said that these companies should increase awareness about the rules and tell users when they log in that they cannot post such content. With the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cases of making fake videos of politicians and celebrities have increased. Such videos are called deepfakes. The government is preparing to make new regulations against this.