Social media platforms closed 700 URLs in 2018: Government
In compliance with the provisions of the Information Technology Act, social media platforms closed almost 700 URLs this year, with the government today saying it has asked these companies to find technological solutions to ensure that rumors and fake news do not proliferate on their platforms. The number of URLs blocked by Facebook was 499, YouTube 57, Twitter 88, Instagram 25 and Tumblr 28.
Platforms can't evade responsibility for content: Prasad
Minister for Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad informed Rajya Sabha that while the government was pressing for more accountability of social media companies, it was clear that the right of the people to raise questions has to be upheld. Prasad suggested that the companies could not simply evade responsibility for the contents on their platforms and they could even be seen as abettors.
Prasad says finding solution to problem isn't rocket science
Prasad said it "doesn't really need rocket science to find solutions to problem" and added that the social media platforms had been asked to take steps. He mentioned the appointment of grievance officers by such companies as one possible measure. Asked by a member if government could consult the PCI to address the issue, Prasad said some instructions in this regard were given recently.
