Sweeping changes in social media rules; govt to regulate OTTs, digital news portals

Intermediaries like WhatsApp must identify the first originator of messages deemed mischievous by the government and all intermediaries will need to pull down unlawful content within 36 hours of it being flagged, following draft guidelines announced on Thursday. Streaming services like Netflix and Google’s YouTube must self-regulate and classify content in categories according to age.

Also, digital news media organisations can be directed by the government to remove any content under Section 69A of the IT Act which it finds objectionable from the point of view of law and order, country’s sovereignty, integrity, or friendly relations with neighbouring countries.

These new regulations are being framed under the Information Technology Act, 2000.