Centre announces new rules to curb misuse of social media platforms and OTT platforms
New Digital Media Rules: The government of India on Thursday announced new rules for social media and OTT platforms. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar and Ravi Shankar Prasad were present while guidelines were being announced.
The new rules have been announced to curb the misuse of social media platforms and OTT platforms. Ravi Shankar Prasad said that "Concerns were raised over the years about rampant abuse of social media. The Ministry had widespread consultations and we prepared a draft in Dec 2018 - there'll be 2 categories, Intermediary which can be social media intermediary and significant social media intermediary."
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"Social media platforms upon being asked either by a court order or a govt authority will be required to disclose the first originator of mischievous tweet or message as the case may be," said Prasad on new rules for social media and OTT platforms.
He added that "This should be only in relation to sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, public order, relations with foreign states, or rape, sexually explicit content, etc."
"We shall notify users number for a significant social media intermediary very soon," he said, adding that they will have to have a grievance redressal mechanism, you will also have to name a grievance officer who shall register the grievance within 24 hours and disposal in 15 days.
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He added that "If there are complaints against the dignity of users, particularly women - expose private parts of individuals or nudity or sexual act or impersonation, etc - you'll be required to remove that within 24 hrs after a complaint made." "This is designed to respect the dignity of women," Prasad said on new Digital Media Rules.
"We have decided to have a 3-stair mechanism for OTT platforms. OTT and digital news media will have to disclose their details. We are not mandating registration, we are seeking information," said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.
"For OTT, there should be self-classification of content -- 13+, 16+ and A categories. There has to be a mechanism of parental lock and ensuring compliance that children don't see that," Javadekar said.
Highlights of New Digital Media Rules | New rules for social media and OTT platforms
New Digital Media Rules: 3 tier mechanisms for OTT platforms
