'Immediately Comply With IT Rules', Centre Serves Last Notice On Twitter; Warns Of Penal Action

Amid the intensifying friction between the Government of India and Twitter, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued  "last notice" to the social media giant to immediately comply with the Information Technology (Guidelines For Intermediaries And Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

In the letter addressed to Mr.Jim Baker of Twitter Inc, USA, the MeITY said that Twitter has not informed about the details of the Chief Compliance Officer as mandated under the Rules till date. It pointed out that the resident grievance officer and nodal contact person isn't an employee of the company.

"The office address of Twitter Inc as mentioned by you is that of a law firm in India, which is also not as per the Rules," it further said.

Though the last date for compliance of the Rules was May 26, the Government said that as a "gesture of goodwill" one last notice is given to immediately comply with the rules. Failure to do so will result in the withdrawal of its protection as an intermediary under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, the Government warned. It further cautioned that Twitter will be liable for other penal consequences as well.

"The refusal to comply demonstrates Twitter's lack of commitment and efforts towards providing a safe experience for the people of India and its platform... it is beyond belief that Twitter Inc has doggedly refused to create mechanisms that will enable the people of India to resolve their issues on the platform in a timely and transparent manner and through fair processes, by India based, clearly identified resources. Leave alone proactively creating such a mechanism, Twitter Inc is in the inglorious bracket of refusing to do so even when mandated by law."

Google and WhatsApp have approached the Delhi High Court challenging the constitutionality of the IT Rules. Few newsportals have also approached High Courts against the Rules.