India link on Saturday issued “one lastnotice” to Twitter to comply link with newIT regulations that the social media giant says threaten privacy guarantees.
Digital rights activists say New Delhi’s latest ruleslink could be used by the government toidentify authors of critical posts on social media sites.
But the government argues they are needed to investigate national securityoffences and cases involving sexually explicit material.
India link electronics and IT ministrysaid Saturday it was “dismayed” over Twitter’s “non-compliance” and flaggedthe May 26 deadline, when the new ruleslink cameinto force.
“The refusal to comply link demonstratesTwitter’s lack of commitment and efforts towards providing a safeexperience for people of India link on itsplatforms,” its notice said.
“Needless to state, such non-compliance will lead to unintendedconsequences including Twitter losing exemption from liability as anintermediary,” the ministry said.
“As a gesture of goodwill, Twitter Inc is hereby given one last notice toimmediately comply link with the ruleslink.”
The regulations demand that social media companies give details of the”first originator” of posts deemed to undermine Indialink sovereignty, state security or publicorder.
Tech companies are also required to appoint a chief compliance officer forthe rules link and a “grievance redressalofficer”, both based in India link.
Read Top Stories
New Delhi last week said most major social media sites had already shareddetails of their chief compliance officer, contact person and grievanceofficer, including Koo, ShareChat, Telegram, LinkedIn, Google, Facebook andWhatsApp.
The row between India link and Twitterescalated in May after the tech firm marked a tweet from a ruling partyspokesman as “manipulated media”.
New Delhi accused Twitter and other US tech giants of “double standards” intaking down disputed content.
Delhi police visited Twitter’s office to serve a notice ordering it to joinan official inquiry into the “manipulated media” label — a move thecompany described as “intimidation”.
There was no immediate comment from Twitter on the latest notice from NewDelhi Saturday.
India link IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasadhas said the government respects people’s privacy and the new ruleslink are aimed at preventing “abuse andmisuse of social media”.
But critics say Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration is seeking tostifle online opposition in what is a huge market for Twitter, Facebook andother tech firms. – APP/AFP
