Government of India Drafts New Regulations Banning Social Media Platforms from Hosting False or Misleading Information

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has banned platforms for storing false information. (photo: twitter @narendramodi)

JAKARTA - The government of India will not allow social media platforms to host any information it deems false. This was revealed according to the draft proposal for the country's IT rules released this week.

The law is the latest in a series of measures by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government that are seen as an attempt to rein in big tech companies.

Any information identified as "false or erroneous" by the Press Information Bureau of India (PIB), or by any other fact-checking body authorized by the government or "by its department where the business is transacted", will be prohibited under the draft rules.

Once information is identified as such, social media platforms or other "online intermediaries" must "use reasonable efforts" to ensure users do not "host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update, or share" such information.

In October, Reuters reported, the Indian government announced a panel would be formed to hear complaints from users regarding content moderation decisions by social media companies, which are already required to appoint an internal complaints handling officer and executive to coordinate with law enforcement officials.

The Indian government has also repeatedly tussled with platforms when they ignored demands for certain content or accounts to be removed for allegedly spreading misinformation.