Government to tighten noose around WhatsApp, Snapchat, Gmail; to roll out stringent norms on user data

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: A move that may be decried by the tech companies like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Gmail, the central government is planning to come out with fresh norms for these companies guiding how to save and share users' data.

Soon, the government is expected to bring out amendments to Section 67C of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Currently, the Act talks of preservation and retention of information by intermediaries. It says that the intermediary shall preserve and retain such information as may be specified for such duration and in such manner and format as the Central Government may prescribe.

It also says that any intermediary who intentionally or knowingly contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be punished with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and also be liable to fine

The committee headed by additional secretary in the ministry of electronics and IT (MEITY) and representative each from the ministry of home affairs, department of telecom, department of personnel and training, Nasscom and Internet Service Provider Association of India (ISPAI) are expected to frame the guidelines.