New IT rules increase responsibility of social platform, fake account of Zee Business and Anil Singhvi is clearly wrong - IT Minister

Minister of State for Information Technology (IT) Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday said the amendments made in the IT rules will increase the responsibility of the platform. The ministry said that the prevention of fake news and sensitive contents are the priority. 

Chandrashekhar said work has to be done to ensure that "misinformation" or illegal material or material that promotes enmity with the intention of inciting violence between different groups on the basis of religion or caste, does not go on the platform.  

Apart from that, it will be the platform's obligation to remove such content within 72 hours of flagging, he added. 

The IT Minister also said that in case of non-satisfaction, the Grievance Appeal Committee will take further decisions. 

On the fake account case running in the name of Zee Business and Anil Singhvi, the ministry said that if the fake IDs are not being closed even after complaint, then it is clearly wrong. It is the responsibility of the platform to deal with it, the minister said. 

It should be noted that last month a series of fake messages recommending investments in Magh Advertising and Marketing Services' SME IPO were being widely circulated through WhatsApp and SMS.  

These messages were credited to Anil Singhvi, Managing Editor, Zee Business, for winning investor confidence. However, all these messages were FAKE as Anil Singhvi did not make any such recommendation. 

Talking about the consultation on Digital India and Data Protection Bill, the IT Minister said that the government will soon bring a new Digital India Bill. He said that there is no hurry to make good laws. 

When asked about the black marketing of the iPhone and its availability, Chandrasekhar said Apple has assured that the stock will be available in India soon regarding the iPhone 14, and Pro. The crisis was caused due to lockdown in China. The production in India will increase, he added.