Google also asked to appear on June 29 to answer on misuse of social media platform
After summoning microblogging platform Twitter, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has asked Facebook and Google to appear before them on June 29 on the subject of “safeguarding citizen rights” and misuse of social media/news platforms.
These developments come against the backdrop of a long standoff between the Indian Government and social media platforms like Facebook’s WhatsApp regarding the implementation of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021.
Officials said that the agenda of the meeting is to hear the views of representatives of Facebook India and Google India on the subject “safeguarding citizen rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms, including special emphasis on women security in the digital space.” The meeting will be held in the Main Committee Room of the Parliament House Annexe at 4 pm. Further, representatives of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will present evidence on the same subject on July 6.
WhatsApp has challenged in the Delhi High Court the new IT rules for social media intermediaries requiring the messaging app to trace chats and make provisions to identify the first originator of information, saying they violate the right to privacy and are unconstitutional. The Facebook owned company further said the requirement of intermediaries enabling the identification of the first originator of information in India upon Government or court order puts end-to-end encryption and its benefits “at risk”.
The committee had previously summoned Twitter to appear before them on the subject of “safeguarding citizen rights” on June 18. Twitter was at the receiving end of prolonged questioning by members of the Standing Committee on Information and Technology on non-compliance of new IT rules, usage of manipulated media tag and fact checking.
The committee members unanimously were critical about Twitter dragging its feet on complying with the new IT rules. The Twitter officials claimed that they abided by their policy. The members, sources said, told Twitter that the rule of land is supreme. According to sources, members of the Parliamentary Panel on Information Technology also asked Twitter why it should not be fined as it has been found “violating” rules of the country. According to sources, senior manager public policy, Shagufta and Twitter India legal counsel, Ayushi kapoor, were present at the meeting.
Following the meeting a Twitter spokesperson in a statement said, “We appreciate the opportunity to share our views before the Standing Committee on Information Technology. Twitter stands prepared to work with the Committee on the important work of safeguarding citizens’ rights online in line with our principles of transparency, freedom of expression, and privacy. We will also continue working alongside the Indian Government as part of our shared commitment to serve and protect the public conversation.”