New Delhi: The government of India is not willing to give Twitter the three-month extension it has requested to implement the new IT rules, officially called Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The deadline for implementing the rules was the evening of 25 May, exactly three months on from the date the rules were issued.
Last week, Twitter had requested for at least three months’ extension to the deadline, and that the procedure to comply with the new rules be opened up for public consultation. The requests were made at the same time as when Twitter’s spokesperson aired concern about the Delhi Police’s “intimidation tactics”, when its special cell visited its India offices. The police action came after Twitter labelled BJP leader Sambit Patra’s and others’ tweets as “manipulated media”.
A senior government official said Twitter’s requests will not be entertained. Other firms have “also asked for extension”, the official said.
On the request for public consultation about compliance procedures, the official added: “Twitter has every right to ask for anything, but that doesn’t mean it will happen. We are not working for Twitter.”
ThePrint has emailed the Press Information Bureau official in charge of communications for the IT ministry, and will update this report when a response is received.
Also read: Concerned about ‘potential threat to freedom of expression’ — Twitter on police visit, IT rules
Grievance officer information
The new IT rules require social media firms with at least 50 lakh registered users in India to appoint a chief compliance officer, a nodal contact person, and a resident grievance officer.
This requirement mostly impacts the likes of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube.
After the deadline to comply with the rules ended on 26 May, the IT ministry had written to social media firms asking to share details of their compliance, as well as details of the officers appointed to these roles.
Facebook has listed Julie Duvall as its grievance officer on its website.
For Twitter, the interim resident grievance officer for India is Dharmendra Chatur.
ThePrint was unable to verify who the updated grievance officers are for WhatsApp and YouTube.
(Edited by Shreyas Sharma)
Also read: Follow our law or quit India — Time for Twitter to stop behaving like an internet coloniser