Indian Government Issues Advisory to Social Media Intermediaries to Combat Misinformation and Deepfakes
Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, emphasized the government's unwavering commitment to the safety and trust of digital citizens.
The Indian government has issued an advisory to major social media intermediaries with the aim of addressing the challenges posed by misinformation and deepfakes. The advisory includes the following key points:
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Social media intermediaries are urged to exercise due diligence and make reasonable efforts to identify and take action against misinformation and deepfakes that violate rules, regulations, and user agreements.
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Swift actions should be taken within the specified timeframes outlined in the IT Rules 2021 to address such cases.
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Users are discouraged from hosting or sharing such misleading information or deep fakes.
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Social media platforms are required to remove any reported content within 36 hours of receiving a report.
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Platforms should ensure that actions are taken promptly and in line with the timeframes set out in the IT Rules 2021, including disabling access to the offending content.
Intermediaries are reminded that any failure to comply with the relevant provisions of the IT Act and Rules could result in invoking Rule 7 of the IT Rules 2021, potentially leading to the loss of protection available under Section 79(1) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, emphasized the government's unwavering commitment to the safety and trust of digital citizens. He highlighted that deepfakes, in particular, pose significant challenges and can harm women. The government is dedicated to ensuring the safety and trust of all citizens, especially women and children who are often targeted by such content.
The Minister stressed that online platforms have a legal obligation to prevent the spread of misinformation under the Information Technology (IT) rules, 2021. They are also required to remove such content within 36 hours of receiving a report from either a user or government authority. Failure to comply may lead to Rule 7 being invoked, allowing aggrieved individuals to take legal action under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
In conclusion, the Minister encouraged those impacted by deepfakes to file First Information Reports (FIRs) at their nearest police station and utilize the remedies provided under the Information Technology (IT) rules, 2021.
Source: PIB
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