To curb the rise of fake content, obscenity, and cybercrime in the digital world, the central government has tightened rules for social media and the over-the-top (OTT) platforms. Under the IT Rules 2021 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the accountability of digital companies has been widened. It will be mandatory to respond to complaints within a stipulated time and submit compliance reports. This government move is specifically aimed at protecting the online safety of women and children.
Tightening the noose on obscene and misleading content
Under the new provisions, social media and OTT platforms will be prohibited from hosting or disseminating obscene, objectionable, hateful, and misleading content.
The IT Act 2000 and the IT Rules 2021 clarify that strict legal action will be taken against platforms that violate these rules. Companies will now be solely responsible for preventing inappropriate and illegal content on online platforms.
Ban on Deepfakes and AI Content
The government has also imposed a strict ban on deepfakes, AI-created fake identities, and content that imitates a person. Upon receiving instructions from the court or the government, it will now be legally mandatory to remove the relevant content within a stipulated timeframe. Specifically, content related to nudity, privacy violations, and fake identities has been made mandatory to be removed within 24 hours. These rules are considered a major step towards making digital platforms more secure, transparent, and accountable.