New IT Rules: Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Koo, Sharechat, Telegram and LinkedIn share details with govt; Twitter yet to comply

After social media giants came under radar of the Indian government for not following the new IT Rules, it is learned that Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Koo, Sharechat, Telegram and LinkedIn have shared details as per requirement of the new digital rules. Twitter, however, was yet to follow and has not sent details yet, reported news agency PTI quoting government sources.  This new ITI rule came into effect earlier this week on May 26 after the deadline to submit details as per requirements of IT norms expired on May 25.  

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"Twitter has not sent details of chief compliance officer to the IT Ministry, and shared details of a lawyer working in a law firm as nodal contact person and grievance officer, the sources told PTI. This when the IT rules clearly require these designated officers of the significant social media platforms to be employees of the company and resident in India, they pointed out. 

After a strong response from the government on Thursday, Twitter sent a communication sharing details of a lawyer working in a law firm in India as their nodal contact person and grievance officer.  

On Thursday, the row over Twitter's handling of certain messages had escalated into an all-out war of words, with the government saying the messaging platform was levelling baseless and false allegations to defame India and dictating terms to the world's largest democracy. 

Under the new rules, social media companies like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter have been asked to identify within 36 hours the originator of a 'flagged message' as well as conduct additional due diligence, including the appointment of a chief compliance officer, nodal contact person and resident grievance officer.  

The Centre has said the new rules are designed to prevent abuse and misuse of platforms, and offer users a robust forum for grievance redressal.  

Non-compliance with rules would result in these platforms losing their intermediary status that provides them immunity from liabilities over any third-party data hosted by them.  In other words, they could be liable for criminal action in case of complaints.  

After the new norms came into effect on May 26, the IT Ministry had turned up the heat on significant social media companies, asking them to immediately report compliance and provide details of the three key officials appointed.