IT Rules 2021 compliance: All social media majors, except Twitter, toe the line

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 came into effect from May 26. 2021. All the major social media players, including Facebook, Whatsapp, Google, Telegram, LinkedIn, among others, have furnished the details sought under the IT Rules 2021. However, Twitter is yet to furnish the information required.

The new IT rules require digital platforms to furnish details regarding the grievance officers, chief compliance officers as well as the nodal contact persons.

In an escalating war of words, the Government in a statement issued, said, “Twitter needs to stop beating around the bush and comply with the laws of the land. Law making and policy formulations is the sole prerogative of the sovereign and Twitter is just a social media platform and it has no locus in dictating what should India’s legal policy framework should be.”

Meanwhile, the Government has given 15 days’ time to the digital media platforms to furnish details regarding their compliance with the IT Rules 2021. Vide a notice dated May 26, 2021, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) directed digital news publishers, newspaper owners and broadcasters that publish news and current affairs on digital media, as well as OTT platforms to furnish the information required to the Ministry.