Draft amendments to IT Rules, 2021:

GS Paper 2:

Syllabus: Government Policies and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context:

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has published a fresh draft of amendments to the Information Technology Rules, 2021.

What are IT Rules, 2021?

1. Significant social media firms have to appoint a chief compliance officer and have a nodal contact person who can be in touch with law enforcement agencies 24/7.
2. A grievance officer: Social media platforms will also have to name a grievance officer who shall register the grievance within 24 hours.
3. Removal of content: If there are complaints against the dignity of users, particularly women – about exposed private parts of individuals or nudity or sexual act or impersonation etc – social media platforms will be required to remove that within 24 hours after a complaint is made.
4. A monthly report: They also will have to publish a monthly report about the number of complaints received and the status of redressal.

What is a significant social media intermediary and benefits obtained under it?

Social media companies with more than 50 lakh registered users will be considered ‘significant social media intermediaries’, as per the new norms.

Latest amendments:

1. Appeal committees: Government-appointed appeal committees will be created that will be able to veto content-moderation decisions taken by social media intermediaries like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
2. Composition of Appeal committees: Appellate Committees shall consist of a Chairperson and such other Members, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
3. Additional responsibilities will be placed on grievance officers appointed by social media companies. Grievance officers will now have to expeditiously dispose the complaints within 72 hours (Earlier, it was 15 days).

What it means for an user?

In case a user is not satisfied with the content moderation decision taken by a company’s grievance officer, they can appeal that decision before the proposed government-appointed appeals committee.

Need for the amendments:

• So far, the only recourse a user had against companies’ content decisions is to approach the courts.
• Also, there have been many instances that grievance officers of intermediaries either do not address the grievances satisfactorily and/or fairly.

The amendments will ensure that “Constitutional rights of Indian citizens are not contravened by any big tech platform by ensuring new accountability standards”.

Concerns associated:

The proposal to set up government-appointed committees has triggered concerns about the government overriding social media platforms’ content decisions.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. Overview of the new rules.
2. Who are intermediaries as per the definition?
3. What is safe harbour protection?
4. Grievance redressal mechanism as provided under the new rules.

Mains Link:

What are the concerns being raised against the new IT rules? Discuss ways to address these concerns.

Q. 2) As per IT Rules, 2021:

1. Social media platforms will also have to name a grievance officer.
2. Significant social media firms have to appoint a chief compliance officer.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only.
2. 2 only.
3. Both.
4. None.

Sources: Indian Express.