Amid Reports Of Internet Media Companies Shutting Down In The Country, Facebook Says Will Accept Rules

New Delhi, 25th May 2021: With the deadline to follow the rules set for all the foreign internet media companies operating in the country. Facebook has given out a statement on the matter. The company said that it will abide by the provisions of the IT rules while some issues are still under negotiation.

A Facebook spokesperson said that “our goal is to follow the provisions of the IT rules and continue to discuss some issues that require discussion with the government. We aim to comply with the provisions of the IT rules and continue to discuss a few of the issues which need more engagement with the government. Pursuant to the IT rules, we are working to implement operational processes and improve efficiencies.”

Significantly, in February, the central government had instructed social media companies to follow certain rules. For this, companies were given a period of three months, which will be completed on May 26, i.e. tomorrow. These companies have not yet followed the rules of the Center, due to which their services were under speculation and on the verge of being closed in the country.

On 25 February 2021, the Ministry of Electronics and IT by the order of the Central Government was given the responsibility of deploying Greaves Officer, Compliance Officer, and Nodal Officer within three months to regulate digital content and all of them were supposed to be operating in India. Under the order given by the Center, companies will have to appoint a Compliance Officer and their name and contact address should be of India, It also contains things like the system of redressal of grievances within 15 days and the general arrangement like monitoring objectionable posts.

According to the new rules, internet media platforms must remove objectionable content within 36 hours, following a government directive or legal order. The new rules state that all arbitrators, including social media intermediaries, should establish a grievance redressal mechanism for receiving or resolving complaints from users or victims. Compliance requirements of the new IT Rule 2021 have been met only by domestic micro-blogging platform Koo. Koo said it has also implemented a grievance redressal mechanism supported by an Indian resident Chief Compliance Officer, Nodal Officer, and Grevens Officer.