New Delhi: The government has sent a final notice to Twitter for not properly implementing the new IT rules introduced by the central government and asked to take immediate action on it. Giving Twitter the last chance to accept the new rules, the government has warned that if it does not follow all the rules, then strict action can be taken against it.
The government in its letter, citing the letters sent on May 26 and May 28, 2021 and those sent by Twitter on May 28 and June 2, 2021, said that the replies given by the microblogging platform do not fully satisfy MeitY. Nor do they appear to be fully adhering to the new rules.
The ministry said in its letter that Twitter has not yet disclosed the information of the Chief Compliance Officer under the new rules. In addition, the Grievance Officer and Nodal Liaison Officer hired by the Company are also not employees of Twitter Inc. in India. At the same time, the office address of Twitter Inc., written in the letter by Twitter, is also of a law firm in India, which is not correct under the rules.
The government said that the rules issued regarding social media intermediary have come into effect from May 26 and a week has passed since it, but Twitter has refused to follow these rules. Needless to state, such non-compliance will have unintended consequences, which may lead to Twitter forfeiting the exemptions available to Twitter as an intermediary under Section 79 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. This is expressly provided under Rule 7 of the above rules.
Along with this, the government has finally said in its letter to give Twitter the last chance to accept the new digital rules. In such a situation, if Twitter does not comply with these rules, then it may have to lose its exemption as an intermediary under Section 79 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, as well as under the IT Act and other laws of India. Action can be taken against him.
