Telcos to also come under regulatory scrutiny of revised intermediary rules
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Synopsis We are studying the regulations…the telcos with value added services will come under the OTT regulations, said a senior executive in one of the three telcos. Another senior executive at a second operator confirmed the same, adding their legal teams are still going through the revised intermediary guidelines under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, announced Thursday.
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Vodafone Idea, who are aiming to go big on digital services through their own over the top (OTT) platforms, now face another regulatory oversight – the latest social intermediary guidelines. The regulations come at a time when the trio are banking on their digital offerings via OTT platforms to generate additional revenue from millions of their subscribers, by driving up data consumption.
Indian social media rules could threaten free expression, critics warn
Under new rules, digital platforms can be forced to remove content SAMAA | AFP - Posted: Feb 26, 2021 | Last Updated: 3 weeks ago SAMAA | AFP Posted: Feb 26, 2021 | Last Updated: 3 weeks ago
India s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar addresses a press conference on social media platforms, in New Delhi on Feb. 25, 2021. (Photo: AFP)
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Internet freedom advocates on Friday warned new Indian social media regulations could pose a threat to freedom of expression, after New Delhi announced plans for tough new rules that could force platforms to remove content it deems objectionable.
NEW DELHI: Indian journalists and digital rights advocates have warned that new social media rules announced on Thursday will further undercut online privacy and freedom of expression in the country.
The new controls give the government more power to police content shared on social media and digital streaming platforms.
It means that Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and other services are more accountable to requests for removal of content and the identification of users who are deemed to have committed illegal acts by authorities.
Under the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code, social media platforms have to remove content within 36 hours of receiving a legal order and assist law enforcers in probing cybersecurity-related incidents within 72 hours of receiving a request.
February 26, 2021
Earlier this year, scores of Indians flocked to Signal overnight after WhatsApp announced an update to its privacy policy. Within a fortnight, the app clocked 26.4 million downloads in the country. It was endorsed by magnates abroad and in India, including billionaire Elon Musk, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, and Indian businessmen Anand Mahindra and Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
But now, India’s new social media guidelines could mean an end to Signal’s success in the country.
As part of the government’s plan to enact greater oversight, social media companies will be obliged to “enable the identification of the first originator” of information on its platforms if required by the authorities, according to the Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 released yesterday (Feb. 25).
Rules framed in ‘opaque’ manner, may lead to censorship: Activists
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Rules framed in ‘opaque’ manner, may lead to censorship: Activists
Anam Ajmal / TNN / Feb 26, 2021, 02:16 IST
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NEW DELHI: Several digital rights activists questioned and criticised the “opaque” way in which the new rules to regulate digital news outlets were made by the Union government without any “public consultation”.
Internet Freedom Foundation executive director Apar Gupta told TOI the implementation of the rules could lead to “political censorship” of any news organisation doing “investigative journalism” and pointing out flaws in government policies.
“If any form of regulation on digital news media is considered it must be through a clear legislative power. Even here, first principles on the need for it and safeguards must be examined. Enforced by a regulatory system that insulates government interference/political censorship,” Gupta