Mostly independent members in social media grievance forum

The appellate committee to address grievances of social media users, proposed in the latest amendments to the Information Technology Rules 2021, will consist primarily of independent experts with government representation restricted to only one or two members, a senior official told ET.

This will ensure independent functioning of the forum, which aims to provide users a primary option to “appeal against the grievance redressal process of social media companies” before approaching any court, the person said. Noting also that it is unlikely for any “any executives from social media intermediaries or internet companies” to be included “on the board of the appellate body.”