The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a directive to social media platforms to adhere to the compliance requirements set forth under Rule 4 of the IT Rules 2021. This rule mandates platforms to appoint a grievance officer, use automated content moderation tools, and publish monthly compliance reports.
Platforms are now required to submit these reports by the 10th of each month, detailing complaints received, actions taken, and content removed or blocked through automated monitoring. This move aims to enhance transparency and ensure adherence to due diligence obligations.
The advisory from MeitY comes in the wake of recent judicial and governmental actions, including a Bombay High Court order for platforms to remove deepfakes and the Prime Minister’s call for a global framework to address fake content and AI safety.
In addition, the forthcoming draft rules under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) are expected to introduce stricter data protection measures. The DPDP Act will create a Data Protection Board of India and enforce stricter responsibilities on social media platforms regarding data accuracy and security.
These developments reflect the Centre’s intensified focus on regulating digital content and safeguarding personal data in India.
