Framework to regulate social media coming: Government

NEW DELHI: The Centre informed the Delhi high court on Wednesday that it will introduce at “some point in time” a framework to regulate social media platforms, including de-platforming of users by them. The government said its proposed framework would also be able to address grievances of existing cases of suspension of social media accounts.
The Centre said this before Justice Yashwant Varma, who was hearing petitions against the suspension of accounts of several social media users, including those using Twitter. Counsel for the government assured the court that an amendment to the law will be made at some point in time.
“It will be prospective and (therefore) these cases will perhaps have to be decided (as per the existing scheme),” he submitted in response to an earlier query from the HC on whether the government was contemplating any draft regulatory measures relating to social media platforms. Granting further time to the Union government, the HC deferred hearings of the petitions till December 19.
In its affidavit filed in one of the cases against the suspension of a Twitter account, the government has said that an individual’s liberty and freedom cannot be “waylaid” and the social media platforms must respect the fundamental rights of the citizens and conform to the Constitution of India.
It said that social media platforms should not take down the account itself or completely suspend it in all cases, and that complete de-platforming is against the spirit of Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.
Stating that it is the custodian of the users’ fundamental rights in cyberspace, the Union government has said that a social media account can be suspended only in cases such as in the interest of the sovereignty, security, and integrity of India, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order, or pursuant to a court order, or if the content is grossly unlawful, such as sexual abuse material, etc.