Perturbed with the way the social media platforms have gone haywire especially against the government policies, the Modi government has now decided to bring stringent rules to make the medium users more accountable.
Elucidating about the proposed measures the Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw While addressing during question hour in Rajya Sabha on Friday said, “The government is contemplating to introduce stringent rules to make social media users accountable, provided wider political consensus.”
Without elaborating much about the need to bring curtails on the platform this moment when voices are being raised from every corner against the government’s style of function especially about handling the situation on northern borders witnessing hostility with the neighbouring country, he said, “Media needs to be made more accountable and hence the stricter rules are proposed to introduced, however, if there is political consensus over the issue.”
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“Whenever the government has taken any step to make social media accountable the opposition parties accuse it of muzzling the freedom of speech,” he said, adding that “We have to ensure the safety and security of our women and our future generations.”
When asked what action has been initiated against the perpetrators of BulliBai app targeting Muslim women, he said, “His government took impromptu action soon after it was brought to its knowledge. The government has initiated action and the IT ministry is delved deeper into the root cause of the issue”
“The issue is quite sensitive. Protecting the dignity of women forms a base of the government and there is no way compromising the same. There is no question of looking at it with the lens of any religion,” the minister said.
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Replying to another query on whether any mechanisms were prepared to effectively monitor the functioning of social media platforms, the minister replied that “We already have stricter social media accountability. The law enforcement agencies of the state governments are acting upon the information that comes through certain agencies or my team. If the house gives its consensus, more strict rules will be put to play. To ensure protection of our citizens, we must make the rules strict further.”
The minister also informed the house that “The government already has a comprehensive intermediary rules and guidelines for social media framed in 2021 that speaks more about how to make the platform safe and avoid its misuse. A framework is created for any cybercrime occurring anywhere in the country and can be reported to central command from where it goes to the relevant law enforcement agency.”
