Neosoft Technologies - Government notifies new rules for social media, Digital news & OTT Platforms
                     Neosoft Technologies - Government notifies new 
rules for social media, Digital news & OTT 
Platforms
Neosoft Technologies - Social media platforms such as 
Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Vimeo, Youtube 
and OTT(over-the-top) players like Netflix, Amazon Prime, 
Hotstar, Zee5, alt Balaji among others, soon will have to 
cohere to higher accountability standards in India. Also 
the new negotiator guidelines cover publishers of news on 
digital media as well.
The Government of India announced on 25 February, 
Thursday a new set of rules and guidelines under the 
existing laws to regulate digital content. Putting all 
speculations of censorship for digital platforms to rest,the 
central government now demands self-regulation from 
content creators on the web. The new rules have been 
enclosed in accordance with various laws under the 
Ministry for Electronics and IT(
Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) 
Rules 2021.
The classification of digital content for different age 
groups is one of the main features of the new guidelines. 
The new guidelines also include rules that will monitor 
social media and digital news platforms. The new set of 
guidelines emphasize action against any material that is 
abusive to women. This applies to both social media and 
digital content platforms. The government has obliged the 
companies to set up a Grievance Redressal Committee 
which will be responsible for taking prompt action on all 
complaints about any content on its platform. Also, the 
government will designate the post of a Joint Secretary or 
above officer as an "Authorized Officer" who can direct 
the blocking of material.
Some Outlines explained by Neosoft Technologies
1. Social media giants such as facebook, Twitter, instagram and 
others  will be required to appoint India-based compliance 
officers. If they remove content, they will be required to inform 
users, also give reasons for taking down their posts and hear 
them out.
2. Social media sites must disclose the "first originator" of any 
disobedient message. "Who started the prank? You have to say," 
Mr. Prasad said, adding that it would be applicable to spread the 
material for which the punishment is up to five years.
3. The supervision mechanism will incorporate a committee with 
representatives from the ministries of Defence, External Affairs, 
Home, I&B, Law, IT and Women and Child Development. It will 
have "suo motu powers" to call hearings on complaints of 
violation of the Code of Ethics if it wants.
4. The government will designate the post of a Joint Secretary or 
above officer as an "Authorized Officer" who can direct the 
blocking of material. If an appellate body believes that the 
material violates the law, it has the right to send the material to a 
government-controlled committee to block orders to be issued.
5. Self-classification for streaming services on content that is 13 
plus old, 16-plus old  or older for adults based on gender, 
violence, and nudity. A procedure  to ensure children do not 
use material approved for them.
6. Digital news media needs to follow the rules under the Press 
Council of India. Also, the new websites have to be registered 
on the site of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
7. The rules discredit social media content that is obscene, 
derogatory, racist, harmful to minors, threatens India's unity, 
integrity, defense, security or sovereignty and its relations with 
other countries. Social media sites have to remove or 
deactivate objectionable or illegal content within 36 hours of 
being notified or a court order.
8. Companies must appoint a Grievance Officer to 
receive, accept and resolve complaints within a month. 
The tech giant will also have to appoint grievance 
officers.
9. An arbitrator has to remove or disable access to 
material that is illegal or objectionable, within 24 hours 
of the complaint.
10. A three-tier mechanism to implement the Code of 
Ethics: self-regulation; self-regulation by the self-
regulating bodies; government's oversight mechanism.
About Neosoft Technologies
Neosoft Technologies is a SEI-CMMI Level-5 and ISO 
9001:2008 certified global IT consulting & software 
solutions provider with 2500+ software consultants 
working full time across 7 Delivery Centers. 
Established in 1996, NeoSOFT is headquartered in 
Mumbai, India with offices in USA, UK, Dubai, Italy, 
Germany, Japan & Australia. Our commitment to 
quality and 24+ years of experience has made us 
serve over 1500+ clients across 50+ countries with 
85% client retention.