Social media platforms to remove explicit, objectionable content in 24 hours: Govt

February 25, 2021

Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Prakash Javadekar in a joint press conference on Thursday announced rules and guidelines for social media and over the top (OTT) platforms in India.
Prasad welcomed the role of social media platforms in empowering ordinary Indians to voice their concerns. However, he warned that such platforms must not be used to share content that comprises “civilised norms” to impinge on “individuals rights dignity” and privacy citing a few examples of online abuse.
“I urge big social media companies to have a ‘soft-touch oversight mechanism’ and have a ‘robust redressal’ of grievances,” said the Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY) in the public address.
If there are complaints against the dignity of users, particularly women or nudity, sexual act or impersonation etc, social media companies will be required to remove such content within 24 hrs after the complaint is made.
“We shall notify users number for a significant social media intermediary very soon. 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,” Prasad further added.
He said social media websites and apps will need to take down explicit, objectionable unlawful content on such platforms within 24 hours of a complaint being filed.

Social media platforms upon being asked either by a court order or a government authority will be required to disclose the first originator of mischievous tweet or message as the case may be, Prasad further said.
“This should be only in relation to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, public order, relations with foreign states, or rape, sexually explicit content etc,” he added.
The minister added that such platforms must have a provision for voluntary verification mechanism of users, appoint a chief compliance officer, nodal contact person in India and a resident grievance officer.
The broader counters of the announcements today pertain to security, privacy, and propriety of the content being shared, published or displayed on such platforms that threaten the rights of unwilling parties or is prejudicial to the safety, integrity, sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order.