The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has advised social media platforms to strengthen monitoring and act against misinformation, manipulated media and misleading content that could disturb public order, asking them to immediately act on government authorities take down orders on priority.
“It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) that certain information, including false, misleading, manipulated or out-of-context content, is being circulated through various social media platforms in relation to ongoing public events and developments. The ministry specifically identified old photographs and videos presented as current events, digitally altered or synthetically generated audio-visual material, impersonation of public authorities or individuals, and content likely to incite violence or unlawful activity. MeitY also called for awareness measures encouraging users to verify the authenticity, source and date of information before sharing it.
MeitY said social media intermediaries must exercise due diligence under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Such content, particularly when presented as current or authentic information, has the potential to cause public confusion, create apprehension, disturb public order and social tranquility, and contribute to law-and-order concerns,” the ministry said in its notice. It has also asked platforms to “accord priority to reports/complaints received from authorised government agencies regarding content having potential implications for public order, and take appropriate action in accordance with applicable law”. On manipulated media, the ministry said platforms should “undertake appropriate measures to identify and appropriately label/contextualise manipulated, synthetically generated or misleading content, particularly where such content is presented as depicting a current event. Platforms have been asked to ensure “timely cooperation with law-enforcement and other authorised government agencies” in accordance with applicable law and prescribed timelines.
