The Centre has asked major social media platforms to act against unlawful protest-related content and flag AI-generated material.
Why Has the Centre Issued the Advisory?
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has reportedly issued an advisory to major social media companies, asking them to prioritise action against unlawful content associated with ongoing protests.
The advisory, issued on October 8, follows complaints from authorised government bodies, including law enforcement agencies, concerning information circulating online.
According to officials familiar with the development, the ministry raised concerns about false, misleading and manipulated material, as well as information shared without appropriate context. The government warned that such content could affect public order, disturb social harmony and potentially incite violence.
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What Action Must Social Media Platforms Take?
The ministry has advised major social media platforms to identify unlawful protest-related content and prioritise appropriate action when complaints are received from authorised government bodies.
The instructions focus on material flagged through official channels, particularly where authorities believe its circulation could create law and order concerns. Platforms have been asked to respond to these complaints in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
The advisory places particular emphasis on cooperation between social media companies and government agencies in addressing potentially unlawful online material.
What Has the Government Said About AI Content?
The advisory also addresses synthetically generated content, particularly material presented as depicting events connected with ongoing protests. Social media companies have been asked to label such content so that users can distinguish artificially generated material from other online information.
The concern extends to manipulated information that could be mistaken for genuine protest-related developments. The instructions reflect the government’s stated concern about misleading online representations of events and their potential consequences for public order.
What Are the Requirements for Cooperation?
MeitY has urged social media companies to cooperate promptly with law enforcement agencies and other authorised government bodies. This includes taking necessary action on complaints, sharing relevant information and providing assistance in accordance with the law.
Officials said such cooperation must follow the timelines prescribed under the Information Technology Rules, 2021.
The420 Insight: The advisory highlights the importance of distinguishing unlawful or manipulated content from genuine information during public protests. Its implementation will depend on platforms responding to authorised complaints, labelling synthetic material and complying with existing legal requirements.
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