National/Alive News: The Central government is considering changes to the legal protection available to social media companies such as Meta, Google and X. Under the proposed changes, platforms could be held legally responsible for content posted, shared or commented on by their users.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has started discussions on possible changes to social media regulations.
Currently, Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, provides these platforms with ‘safe harbour’ protection. This means companies are generally not held legally responsible for third-party content published on their platforms, provided they follow the conditions laid down under the law.
The government is considering limiting this protection to internet service providers, telecom operators and messaging platforms, potentially excluding social media companies.
Government Raises Questions Over Content Moderation
A section of the government believes that social media platforms are no longer just channels for sharing information. Their algorithms influence which posts, videos and comments users see by deciding their ranking, recommendations and reach.
Platforms also remove or restrict content under their own community guidelines, which may not always match Indian laws. The proposed changes could increase their legal responsibilities for content appearing on their services.
NHRC Seeks Probe into Instagram Allegations
The issue comes after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) directed Delhi Police to investigate allegations that advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) appeared on Meta-owned Instagram in India.
The commission also asked police to examine whether Meta and other concerned parties had fulfilled their reporting obligations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
However, the proposed changes are still under consideration, and no final decision has been announced.
