India is looking forward to implement a new way to track fake news and misinformation on social media platforms.

Not only that, but the government is also moving in a different path to put new structured law on streaming platforms in the country.

India’s new rules on using Internet

India, as 2^nd most populous country in the world, expects to have stringent law guidelines in protecting each of its citizens. Not only in the real world, but on the online community.

In order to have stability, Indian government is planning to change its guidelines for social media, especially Facebook and Google.

Yahoo reported that India’s IT, Law, and Justice minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, held a press conference, explaining the new rules that social media companies should follow in the country.

Most of them involve requiring companies to set up a local office in India and hiring chief compliance officer and a nodal contact officer.

These officials will be the ones that India will contact, in case of emergency or criminal cases connected to the platform.

They must be available 24-7, according to the report.

Though this rule seemed plausible by tech giants, the surprising requirement that the government put in their amendment is to force social media platforms to track their users’ personal information, and give them to the authorities.

This rule allows India to record which user is the original source of fake news and misinformation, that is rampant in platforms.

“We don’t want to know the content, but firms need to be able to tell who was the first person who began spreading misinformation and other objectionable content,” Prasad said.

Other rules to follow

Not only users’ data could be affected in this new possible law, the government will also be given authority to take down posts and unlawful content on platforms, if they deemed necessary.

“Social media companies will be required to acknowledge takedown requests of unlawful content within 24 hours and deliver a complete redressal in within 15 days,” Yahoo explains.

Aside that, a monthly compliance report must be included in the responsibilities of the platforms, along with an offer to all users to verify their accounts, if possible.

India’s streaming sites warning

Social media platforms are not the only ones affected with the possible amendments. In fact, streaming sites in the country may also face new rules, written in a three-tier structure for “observance and adherence to the code.”

A stricter regulation will be implemented in these platforms, including but not limited to content ratings to their titles.

“The publisher of online curated content shall prominently display the classification rating specific to each content or programme together with a content descriptor informing the user about the nature of the content, and advising on viewer description (if applicable) at the beginning of every programme enabling the user to make an informed decision, prior to watching the programme.”

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