Digital companies like Google and Facebook have started updating their websites to reflect the appointment of the grievance officers under the new social media rules that came into effect on 26th May
According to reports, major social media companies like Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Koo, Telegram, ShareChat, LinkedIn have shared details with the IT Ministry as per the requirement of the new digital rules. However, Twitter is still yet to follow the norms.
As per reports, Facebook and WhatsApp have already shared their compliance report with the Ministry of Electronics and IT. They are also updating the details of the new grievance officers appointed, replacing the existing information on these platforms.
As per the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules 2021, the platforms should appoint a Chief Compliance Officer responsible for ensuring compliance with the Act and Rules. They should also publish on their website, app or both, the name of the grievance officer and his/her contact details, as well as the mechanism by which a user or a victim may make a complaint.
Google, in their ‘Contact Us’, has provided a detailed note on Grievance Mechanism for India and have provided details of Joe Grier as a contact person with an address from Mountain View, US. The page also contains information on the grievance redressal mechanism for YouTube.
Google spokesperson, in a statement, said, “We respect India’s legislative process and have a long history of responding to government requests to remove content where the content violates the local law or our product policies. We have consistently invested in significant product changes, resources, and personnel to ensure that we’re combating illegal content effectively and fairly and to comply with local laws in the jurisdictions that we operate in.”
At the same time, WhatsApp has moved to the Delhi High Court, challenging the aspect of the new regulations. The petition was filed on May 25.
