Social media platforms may lose legal immunity:Report says govt may hold Meta, YouTube and X liable for every post

The Central government is considering removing the legal protection granted to social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X. According to a report by The Indian Express, the IT Ministry has begun discussions on changes to social media rules. Under the proposed changes, platforms may also be held responsible for users’ posts, videos and comments. Currently, Section 79 of the IT Act provides these companies with ‘safe harbour’ protection. Under this provision, companies are not held directly responsible for content posted or comments made by users. The government is considering removing this protection from social media companies and limiting it to internet, telecom and messaging platforms. Protection Drives Meta and Google’s Business Growth According to an India Express report, this protection has helped companies such as Meta, Google and X build major businesses around user-generated content. They do not have to assume legal responsibility for every post, video or comment. A section of the government believes that social media platforms are no longer merely channels for disseminating information. They use algorithms to determine the ranking, recommendation and reach of content. These platforms remove or restrict posts based on their community guidelines. These rules may sometimes differ from Indian laws. Accused of promoting content linked to the sexual exploitation of children on Instagram Earlier, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had directed the Delhi Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into allegations that child sexual abuse material (CSAM) was promoted in India through paid advertisements on Meta-owned Instagram. The NHRC had also directed the police to investigate whether the technology company and other concerned parties had fulfilled their mandatory reporting obligations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. BBC report: Sexual abuse content available cheaply on Meta