Non-compliance with new rules: Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp run the risk of losing legal immunity

Intermediaries like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc run the risk of losing immunity from criminal proceedings under the Information Technology Act, if they fail to comply with the new Intermediary guidelines notified by the government on February 25, which comes into force from May 26.

The government had given such firms three months to comply with the new rules but as on Monday none of the firms have done so. Instead, they have under aegis of industry associations sought a six-month extension for compliance as the Pandemic has crippled their normal office work.