Social media self-rule ‘still an option’

The government on Saturday indicated that it was still open to self-regulation by social media platforms, saying the lackadaisical approach of big tech firms like Twitter, YouTube and Meta was why it had to come up with the idea of grievance appellate committees to protect online users.

The government had on Friday notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2022, which provide for the grievance appellate committees (GACs). The Centre expects that the amended rules will force intermediaries to realise that accountability is a key user demand and respond to grievances better.

“One scenario is that they (platforms) address (complaints) through a grievance redressal mechanism — they create more capacity. If they don’t, then (the) grievance appellate committee creates capacity,” IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar told reporters.