Social Media Platforms Have To Abide By Indian Laws: Amit Shah

Amit Shah on Social Media platforms

On Thursday, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Indian government is dedicated to provide stage and support for flourishment of all digital media and OTT platforms until they stand under constitutional dimensions. He sought the social media and OTT platforms to abide by Indian laws for their smooth functioning.

The statement by Mr. Shah hit the headlines after government's announcement of implementing regulations for social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and OTT platforms like Netflix, instructing them remove the content flagged by authorities within 36 hours and formulate a complaint redressal with the help of officer based in the country. "All social media platforms are hereby informed to adhere to Indian laws. The new guidelines aim to empower the social media users to seek redressal in a constitutional manner and resolve their grievances. I applaud @narendramodiji and @rsprasadji," he tweeted.

He affirmed that the Modi government is inclined towards promotion of social media and OTT platforms. "We welcome the code of Ethics and 3 tier self regulation. I extend my wishes to @narendramodi ji and @PrakashJavedkar ji for these much needed rules," he said while promoting the hashtag #ResponsibleFreedom.

The new guidelines also mandated platforms like Twitter and Whatsapp to identify the original source of message that is considered to be anti-national or against security and sovereignty of a nation, incite violence or disharmony among communities. The guidelines primarily focus on in-house self-regulatory mechanisms, providing a grievance redressal mechanism in the domain of upholding journalistic and creative freedom.