Parliamentary panel on IT summons Facebook, Google officials tomorrow over misuse of platforms

The Parliamentary panel on Information Technology, headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, had called Facebook and Google officials amid the company’s standoff with the government over new IT rules.

Representational Image (Credits: MarketWatch)

New Delhi: Parliament Standing Committee on Information Technology is scheduled to hold a meeting on Tuesday (June 29, 2021) to hear the views of Facebook India and Google India on safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social online news media platforms. The Committee, headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, has called the representatives of the two IT giants to register their views on the matter. 

Parliament Standing Committee on Information Technology call representatives of Facebook India and Google India for a meeting on 29th June, to hear their views on safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social online news media platforms

— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2021

Earlier on June 18, the Committee had called Twitter to appear before the panel to give representation on how to prevent misuse of social media and online news. On June 20, India's permanent mission at the United Nations had clarified that India's new IT rules are "designed to empower ordinary users of social media" and that they were finalised after the government held broad consultations with civil society and other stakeholders in 2018.

The Central government has framed the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 and notified the same on February 25, 2021. The Rules have come into effect from May 26, 2021.