Microblogging platform Twitter has requested the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEiTY) to seek more time to comply with the new social media rules. Sources suggest that the San Francisco-based social media platform needs more time due to the pandemic situation in India. It further stated that the firm continues to remain deeply committed to India and to serve public conversation taking place on its platform.
"Twitter has written to Meity seeking more time to comply with the IT rules. It has expressed its intent to comply with the rules but has been unable to do so because of the pandemic," a source told PTI.
The firm’s response comes after the Centre, last week, issued a strong final warning to it regarding its non-compliance with the new rules. The notice, however, did not specify a deadline to comply with these laws which are stirred at preventing abuse and misuse of the platform.
A Twitter spokesperson said: "We have assured the Government of India that Twitter is making every effort to comply with the new guidelines, and an overview of our progress has been duly shared. We will continue our constructive dialogue with the Indian Government.”
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"Despite being operational in India for more than a decade, it is beyond belief that Twitter Inc has doggedly refused to create a mechanism that will enable the people of India to resolve their issues on the platform in a timely and transparent manner and through fair processes, by India based, clearly identified resources," the Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry’s notice, though with effect from May 26, 2021, "consequences follow" given Twitter's non-compliance with the rules.
The notice further added: "However, as a gesture of goodwill, Twitter Inc is hereby given one last notice to immediately comply with the rules, failing which the exemption from liability available... shall stand withdrawn and Twitter shall be liable for consequences as per the IT Act and other penal laws of India."
According to the new IT rules, the social media giants like Facebook and Twitter, if they do not comply with these laws could lose their intermediary status in the country and the platforms could also be liable for criminal action in case of a complaint.
The intermediary status grants these platforms immunity from liabilities over any third-party data hosted by them. Intermediary status is given to such platforms that have more than 50 lakh users and they are also required to appoint a grievance officer, a nodal officer, and a chief compliance officer and they have to be Indian citizens.
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The centre has said that these new rules are designed to prevent abuse and misuse of these services and offer a healthy forum for grievance redressal to its users.