Willing to comply, discuss issues: FB

Facebook on Tuesday said it is working to comply with the rules notified in February to govern the online content and was discussing the provisions that “need more engagement” with the government even as the deadline for compliance is due to end on Tuesday. The company underlined it remains committed to people’s ability to freely and safely express themselves on the platform

The rules allow users to dispute action taken against them by social media intermediaries such as Facebook and Twitter and setting up a three-tier selfregulatory framework for so-called over the top (OTT) platforms like Amazon Prime and online news media entities.

“We aim to comply with the provisions of the IT [Information Technology] rules and continue to discuss a few of the issues which need more engagement with the government. Pursuant to the IT Rules, we are working to implement operational processes and improve efficiencies,” a Facebook spokesperson said.

The statement came a day after electronics and information technology ministry officials months to comply.”

The policy also includes bringing digital news publishers under the ambit of Section 69(A) of the Information Technology (IT) Act. The provision empowers the government to order the blocking of access to content that is considered a threat to public order. An officer, who will head an inter-ministerial committee at the apex of the self-regulatory system, can also issue this order under emergency circumstances where the companies will not be given a chance for explanation. The committee will have to meet within 48 hours to ratify the emergency block.

The rules mandate increased due diligence by social media companies and data sharing, such as information about the first originator, with enforcement agencies. They define significant social media intermediaries as platforms that have five million users or above.

A second official said as soon as the rules were notified, they became a legal framework. “According to part seven of the new guidelines, if the intermediary does not follow the rules, it is liable for punishment under Indian law, as section 79 of the [IT] Act will no longer apply.”

We aim to comply with the provisions of the IT rules and continue to discuss a few of the issues which need more engagement with the government

NEW DELHI: