Complying with the new social media rules introduced by the government, social media giants like Google, Facebook and WhatsApp have shared details with the IT Ministry, news agency PTI reported quoting its sources.
However, the suspense continues over whether Twitter will comply with the new digital rules or not. The micro-blogging site has not sent details of the chief compliance officer to the IT Ministry, according to the PTI report. The company has shared details of a lawyer working in a law firm as a nodal contact person and grievance officer though the IT rules clearly require these designated officers to be employees of the company.
Twitter India Managing Director Manish Maheshwari on Friday tweeted a slogan poster, apparently admitting that there is a tough path ahead but things will be better soon. Maheswari's tweet showed a slogan poster that read: "It's going to be hard, but hard does not mean impossible (sic)," saying that "That's the tweet".
Also Read | Twitter trying to dictate terms, undermine India's legal system: IT Ministry
Earlier, a plea was registered in the Delhi High Court against the non-cooperation of Twitter India and Twitter Inc with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021).
The plea contended that Twitter is a "Significant Social Media Intermediary" (SSMI) as laid down under the IT Rules, 2021 and therefore must ensure compliance with the statutory duties imposed upon it by the provisions of these rules. The plea contended that in a nutshell, every significant social media intermediary has a responsibility not only to appoint a resident grievance officer who will act as single point authority for receiving and disposing of complaints within a fixed time but will also receive and acknowledge any order, notice and direction issued by the competent authorities.
Twitter had raised concerns over the 'potential threat' to freedom of speech and the new IT rules have elements that inhibit free conversation. The Centre on Thursday hit back hard at Twitter's, saying that the US-based microblogging platform is trying to dictate its terms in India, and also wants to undermine the country's legal system.
The war of words between Twitter and the government has been escalating lately. Twitter had market several tweets of BJP rulers as ‘manipulated media’ after they had tweeted about an alleged ‘toolkit’ strategy document of the opposition. This prompted the Delhi Police to raid Twitter India’s office on Monday.
Twitter later said in a statement that the visit of Delhi Police is a form of “intimidation", further implying that it was committed to India as a vital market, but criticised the new IT rules and regulations that it said, “inhibit free, open public conversation."
Reacting to this, the government called it “totally baseless, false and an attempt to defame India", Delhi Police said the statement was “mendacious" and designed to impede a lawful inquiry.
Ever since a plea filed in court by Twitter over alleged abuse of the Right to Privacy by the government has been registered. Centre, however, has said the new rules are designed to prevent abuse and misuse of platforms, and offer users a robust forum for grievance redressal.
After the new norms came into effect on May 26, the IT Ministry had turned up the heat on significant social media companies, asking them to immediately report compliance and provide details of the three key officials appointed.
