India released new, stricter rules for regulating the operation of technology giants such as Facebook and Twitter on Thursday, February 25, Reuters reported.
As follows from the innovations, companies will have to create mechanisms to deal with user complaints, appoint representatives whose duties will include coordination with local law enforcement agencies.
Internet companies need to be “more responsible and accountable,” Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters. According to him, the companies were obliged to disclose the identity of the authors of the posts at the request of the authorities.
A detailed set of rules for the work of social networks will be published later, it will enter into force three months from the date of publication.
The rules were tightened after Twitter ignored demands from Indian authorities to take action to stop the spread of misinformation and inflammatory messages in the wake of Indian farmers’ protests against new agricultural laws.
On February 8, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to protect the country from “destructive” foreign ideology and harmful influences from abroad after pop star Rihanna, eco-activist Greta Thunberg and American lawyer Mina Harris, niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris, supported Indian farmers.
Earlier in February, Instagram tightened its policies on hate speech. Now the accounts of the users who allowed them will be deleted indefinitely.