According to an official statement released on Monday, 6 June, the government’s proposal to establish a grievance panel with the power to override decisions made by social media companies and other internet firms is aimed at addressing some infirmities and gaps arising from big technology companies.
In a press release accompanying the reloaded draught notification to amend the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) stated that it will hold a public consultation on the proposal in mid-June.
From June 6 onwards, the public comment period on the draught notification to amend the IT Rules, 2021 has been extended by 30 days.
The deadline for public comments was set for June 22 in the draught notice dated June 1. Meity removed the draught on June 2nd, but it has since been re-uploaded on its website.
Accountability in a New Light
Meity announced on February 25, 2021 that it had notified IT Rules, 2021, with the goal of ensuring an open, safe, trusted, and accountable Internet for all Indian internet users and “Digital Nagriks.”
Significant social media intermediaries – those with more than 50 lakh users – must appoint a grievance officer, a nodal officer, and a chief compliance officer, according to the rules. These individuals must be Indian citizens.
Because they dominate the segments in which they operate, the social media companies covered by the rules are also classified as “Big Tech” companies.
The notified rules, according to Meity, have succeeded in instilling a new sense of accountability among intermediaries toward their users, particularly within Big Tech platforms.
