The advisory to social media firms is likely to be released in next few weeks, keeping in mind the election season
Ahead of the elections season, the government is exploring issuing an advisory to social media firms, especially WhatsApp and Facebook, to curb fake news.
There have been many lynching incidents after viral fake news messages/rumours spread, mainly through WhatsApp, which has become an issue of grave concern for the government because of law and order problems.
"There is a line of thought which mandates issue of an advisory. But, we can also make this a part of guidelines for social media firms which is already in the making," a senior official from Ministry of Electronics and IT told DNA Money.
Such fake news also forms an opinion among people which is not beneficial, keeping in mind the elections season — five state assembly polls this year and the general elections next year, the official said.
The advisory may list out various dos and don'ts for social media firms to follow 48 hours before the voting takes place, which also marks the end of election campaign, in the respective states. "Voters should not be influenced in the critical time before voting. Social media needs to take utmost precautions for political advertisements on their platform; we might ask them to pull out such advertisements 48 hours before voting commences. There needs to be a 24x7 monitoring on these issues which the social media firms have to ensure," another official from the ministry privy to the developments said.
Several rounds of talks have taken place between ministries and social media firms as well as the Election Commission. The guidelines or advisory related to elections is expected to be out within a few weeks.
The ministry is still in the process of framing new guidelines for intermediaries with intent to make social media platforms responsible and accountable for violent/fake messages being circulated through their medium. The messages which have implications of law and order or security issues will only be considered for tracing by law enforcement agencies. The guidelines, once finalised, will be a part of Section 79 of the Information Act (IT) Act.
The government has asked for a grievance officer to be present in India, which the company has done recently.
STEPS SO FAR
- The Government is still in the process of framing new guidelines for intermediaries with intent to make social media platforms responsible and accountable for violent/fake messages being circulated through their medium.
- The messages which have implications of law and order or security issues will only be considered for tracing by law enforcement agencies.
- The guidelines, once finalised, will be a part of Section 79 of the Information Act (IT) Act.
- The government has already asked WhatsApp for a grievance officer to be present in India, which the company has done recently, and a technological solution for tracing messages.
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