October 25, 2018:
Take concrete steps to ensure a robust & effective system for preventing misuse of their platforms, is the direction.
Government has asked Google, Twitter, WhatsApp & other social media platforms to take concrete steps to check spread of rumours & messages inciting unrest, cyber crimes & other activities that could be detrimental to the national security, officials said Thursday.
Besides, these platforms, which also include Facebook & Instagram, have also been asked to put in place a system for prompt sharing of information sought by the law enforcement agencies for investigation purposes, officials added.
A number of cases have come to the fore in recent past where social media platforms were used to spread hate messages& rumours inciting violence, including against women, but internet giants -- most of them being headquartered outside India -- have been resisting sharing of customer details & message trails citing privacy issues.
However, some social media firms have said they are taking necessary steps to stop misuse of their platforms for spread of fake news, & rumours & hate messages.
In a meeting with asked representatives of various social media platforms, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba also asked them to nominate India-based grievance redressal officers & to develop a monitoring mechanism for time-bound preventive & other actions for removal of objectionable contents.
“The union home secretary asked them to take concrete steps to ensure a robust & effective system for preventing misuse of their platforms for activities detrimental to national security,” a home ministry official said.
Those who attended the meeting included representatives of Facebook, Google, Twitter, Whatsapp, YouTube & Instagram. Besides, officials from the Department of Telecom & various security agencies were also present. The meeting, which took place on Wednesday, was called to review actions taken so far to prevent misuse of social media sites by undesirable elements or miscreants to spread rumours, cause unrest, incite cyber crimes especially against women & children & other activities detrimental to national interest.
The representatives of social media platforms briefed the government officials about actions taken by them to ensure blocking of websites & for removal of objectionable & malicious contents from public view.
All social media platforms have assured full cooperation with the government, another official said.
Since a review meet held by the union home secretary with social media representatives in June this year, a series of meetings has taken place with law enforcement agencies & social media firms to ensure an effective mechanism to prevent misuse of these platforms by anti-national elements & those involved in proliferation of child sexually abuse material etc.
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