Guideline on blocking social media content not new, existed since 2009: I&B Ministry

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry clarified on Saturday that the interim blocking of social media content, as mentioned in the recently issued guidelines for social media, is not a new provision and it existed since 2009. Only that the authority to exercise this power has shifted from the Ministry of Electronics and IT to the I&B Ministry, it said. 

“It is reiterated — no change in provision has been made nor any new provision has been added on blocking of content under Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021,” the Ministry stated in a press release after ‘certain misgivings’ were raised. 

In the recently released guidelines, issued on February 25, 2021, the government has asked social media platforms to withdraw any content flagged by the authorities within 36 hours and set up a grievance redressal mechanism with an officer based in India. It also requires these platforms to trace the originator of a message that causes any kind of trouble in the country. 

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