Lok Sabha Question No. 2223 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Accountability of Social Media
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Ramesh Chander Kaushik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2223

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## ACCOUNTABILITY OF SOCIAL MEDIA

## 2223.   SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  any  policy  has  been  framed  by  the  Government  to  make  the  social  media accountable and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  action  taken  by  the  Government  against  the  erring  social  media  operating companies so far; and
- (c) the number of persons whose social media accounts have been suspended during the last year?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a)  and  (b):The  Government's  objectives  are  to  ensure  an  Open,  Safe  &Trusted  and Accountable Internet for Digital Nagrik or citizens.

The  Information  Technology  Act,  2000  ('IT  Act')  and  the Information  Technology (Intermediary  Guidelines  and  Digital  Media  Ethics  Code)  Rules,  2021  ('IT  Rules,  2021'), together, has created a framework for all intermediaries in particular significant social media intermediaries vis-a-vis objective of safety & trust and accountability on the internet for all Indian users. To ensure this, the Central Government, in exercise of the power under IT Act has notified the IT Rules, 2021. These new rules cast specific obligation on intermediaries vis-à-vis what  kind of information is to be hosted, displayed, uploaded, published, transmitted,  stored  or  shared.    Intermediaries  are  also  required  to  remove  any  content violative  of any law for the time being in force as and when brought to their knowledge either through a court order or through a  notice  by  appropriate  government  or  its  authorised  agency.  In  case  of  failure  to  follow diligence as provided in the IT Rules, 2021, by intermediaries, they shall lose their exemption from liability under section 79 of the IT Act and shall be liable for consequential action as provided  in  such  law.  Further,  in  case  an  intermediary  is  a  significant  social  media intermediary  (an  intermediary  having  more  than  50  lakh  registered  users  in  India),  to additionally  observe  due  diligence  in  terms  of  appointing,  in  India,  a  Grievance  Officer,  a Chief  Compliance  Officer  and  a  nodal  contact  person  for  24x7  coordination  with  law enforcement  agencies.  As  per  the  IT  Rules,  2021,  the  Chief  Compliance  Officer  is responsible for ensuring compliance with the IT Act and the rules made thereunder.

Keeping  in  view  complaints  regarding  action  or  inaction,  on  the  part  of  the  social  media intermediaries and other intermediaries on user grievances regarding objectionable content or suspension of their accounts, the  Central Government has also established three  Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs), as provided for in the said IT Rules, 2021 to enable users to appeal against the decisions taken by Grievance Officer of intermediaries on user complaints.

,  stored  or  hosted  in  any  computer  resource  if  it  is  necessary  or  expedient  to  do  so  in  the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above. For blocking of information under section 69A, the Government  follows  the  process  prescribed  under  the  Information  Technology  (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information for Public) Rules, 2009. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued directions under section 69A of the IT Act for  blocking  a  total  of  6,775  Uniform  Resource  Locators  (URLs)  in  the  year  2022,  which include URLs for webpages, websites and content and accounts on social media platforms.

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