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Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Parliament panel seeks report on action against social media platforms ‘working against' national interest
A parliamentary panel has asked the government to furnish details on the action it plans to take to ban social media platforms and influencers who seem to be 'working against the interest of the country, which is likely to incite violence' after the Pahalgam terror attack. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology wrote to the secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT, and the secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, seeking these details. The office memorandum from the panel, say sources, requested the ministries for details of 'contemplated action taken to ban such platforms under IT Act 2000 and Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021'. The sources added that the panel has sought this information by May 8, 2025. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey heads Parliament's Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology. As many as 26 people were killed in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, and there has been a rise in cross-border hostility between India and Pakistan after the incident.
News18
05-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Parliament Panel Seeks Report On Action Against Social Platforms Over 'Anti-National' Content
A parliamentary panel has sought details from two key government ministries on the action they have planned against social media platforms over 'anti-national' content A parliamentary panel has sought details from two key government ministries overseeing information flow on the action they have planned against social media platforms and influencers who "seem to be working against national interest" following the Pahalgam terror attack. Parliament's Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology headed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has noted that some social media influencers and platforms in the country seem to be working against the interest of the country which is likely to incite violence, sources said. The Committee in its communication to the ministries of Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology has sought details of the "contemplated action taken to ban such platforms under IT Act 2000 and Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021". The letter, the sources added, has been sent to the respective secretaries of the two ministries and they have been asked to submit details by May 8. Several social media handles have been banned on different platforms after they allegedly posted content against national security interests. At least 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were gunned down by terrorists in Pahalgam on April 22, with India blaming terror groups linked to Pakistan for the horrific incident. In a post on X, Gokhale said, "To make it clear — the Parliament IT Committee has not said this. As a member, I have neither received any communication nor have I signed anything saying this." "Under Parliamentary Rules, a Chairman cannot issue any letter he wants without seeking approval of the committee. Parliamentary Committees are sacrosanct and should not be hijacked for political agendas," he said. (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) First Published: May 05, 2025, 23:43 IST
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Some influencers working against national interest after Pahalgam attack: Parliament panel
The Parliament's Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has said that some social media influencers and social media platforms appear to be working against the interest of the country after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. The panel, led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, has sought details from two ministries overseeing information flow on the action they have planned against such influencers and platforms, according to PTI. The Committee in its communication to the ministries of Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology has sought details of the "contemplated action taken to ban such platforms under IT Act 2000 and Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021". According to sources cited by PTI, the letter has been sent to the respective secretaries of the two ministries, and they have been asked to submit details by May 8. Tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 persons, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. India has vowed to hunt down the perpetrators of the attack and has announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties. The Central government has cancelled all types of visas granted to Pakistani nationals and closed Indian airspace for flights operated by Pakistan Airlines. In retaliation, Pakistan announced the suspension of all trade with India, including to and from any third country through Pakistan and barred Indian airlines from using its airspace. Pakistani forces have also been violating the ceasefire along the border continuously for the last 10 days. At a key security meeting after the terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the armed forces have full operational freedom to determine the mode, targets, and timing of India's response to the attack.
Zawya
14-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
India regulator seeks greater access to social media records, source and memo say
NEW DELHI: India's markets regulator is seeking broader powers from the government to remove unauthorised financial advice from social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, and to access their call records for investigations into market violations, a government source and a document reviewed by Reuters showed. This is the second time since 2022 that the Securities and Exchange Board of India has sought such powers, with approval from the government still pending. The request comes as the regulator has intensified investigations into market violations and clamped down on unregulated financial advice circulating on social media. Social media companies have also not complied with the government's request for access to their call data records, and groups and channels, despite an earlier meeting with the regulator, SEBI has said. In its latest letter sent last week, SEBI said companies such as Meta Platforms' WhatsApp have denied the regulator access to its social media group chats as the current information technology law does not identify the capital markets watchdog as an 'authorised agency.' The regulator sought powers to "take down any messages, information, links and groups on social media channels if the content violated the securities regulations," the letter showed. It also sought powers to access calls or message data records communicated through digital or social media platforms. Such powers are currently vested with other law enforcement agencies such as the Tax Department, Department of Revenue Intelligence and Enforcement Directorate, but not with the regulators. "SEBI finds itself limited while investigating serious market violations due to the absence of power to access equivalent of call data records," according to the letter sent on February 3. The letter and its contents have not been previously reported. SEBI, the finance ministry and Meta Platforms did not respond to emails seeking comment. In a revised statement emailed to Reuters on Friday, Telegram said it is in regular touch with various departments of SEBI and processes all valid requests for content moderation, which are submitted with requisite documentation. "Telegram is fully cooperating with the concerned authorities to process their requests around content moderation or blocking groups or channels, after performing the necessary legal checks, as per the guidelines of the IT Act 2000," it said. "However, Telegram cannot provide access to call data due to the structural design of its technical architecture." The revised statement removed reference made in a previous statement issued on Thursday that said "Telegram has not denied access to SEBI", without elaborating. There are several ongoing investigations pertaining to market manipulations such as front-running and insider trading, which require the regulator to access records of these social media groups, said the government official who has direct knowledge of the matter. WhatsApp groups and Telegram channels have become popular among market participants, with financial influencers sharing trading tips on specific stocks and other securities in return for money. EARLIER REQUEST In August 2022, SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch made a similar request, asking the government for more powers to access the exchange of information among alleged suspects involved in offences such as insider trading through digital resources. The government did not grant those powers but convened a meeting of its different departments, including SEBI, with representatives from Meta, to direct them to provide all relevant information regarding ongoing investigations. The government is examining SEBI's new request, but the official said that such powers are typically only granted for serious crimes, and any decision to grant these powers would require a broader policy decision for all regulators. Developed countries such as those in Europe and the U.S. do not grant direct authority to their securities regulators to remove social media posts. However, they have the capacity to penalise individuals engaged in illegal activities, such as fraud and misleading advertising. (Reporting by Shubham Batra in New Delhi; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Rod Nickel and Sam Holmes)
