The Indian government is all set to amend the rules that act as guidelines for intermediaries in digital media so that such outlets are mandated by law to follow a code of ethics.

“These rules (relating to intermediaries) are being amended to make social media platforms more responsive and accountable to Indian laws. These rules will also make digital media platforms to adhere to Code of Ethics,” the government said in Parliament today.

Under the Information Technology Act, 2000, intermediaries are those digital media platforms that host third party information on their computer resources. A public consultation regarding guidelines for intermediaries was held by the Ministry of Electronics and Information technology (Meity) in 2019.

Replying to a series of questions posed by Rajeev Chandrashekhar on online digital platforms transgressing into unchartered territories and breaching Indian laws, Meity junior minister Sanjay Dhotre said in Rajya Sabha (Upper House) there have been media reports and grievances received in the ministry relating to alleged bias of social and digital media platforms.

“With the proliferation of internet as well as social and digital media, the ability of anyone being able to post any material resulting in huge data being made available on digital media, there is always a possibility that some of such material posted may be attracting conditions as laid down in Article 19(2) of the Constitution. Government has taken steps to safeguard Indian citizens and also to ensure that social media platforms abide by Indian laws,” the minister said.