The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, (MeiTY) has issued a Press release regarding the Mandatory Verification of Social Media Accounts. The press release was issued on 9th December, 2022,
An intermediary under the Information Technology Rules, 2021 must perform the following due diligence:
- make reasonable efforts to cause the users not to host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share, among others, information that:
- deceives or misleads the addressee about the origin of the message
- knowingly and intentionally communicates any misinformation or information which is patently false and untrue or misleading in nature
- impersonates another person
- in case of a violation of the above clause, the intermediary must not host, store or publish unlawful information. Such unlawful information refers to that which is prohibited under law and includes:
- information in relation to defamation,
- interest of public order
- decency
- morality
- incitement to any offense relating to any of the above.
The intermediary may have come across the information voluntarily or upon actual knowledge on receipt of a grievance or court order or notice from the appropriate government or its agency. Provide information or assistance for prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution under the law. Such information shall be provided on receipt of an order from an authorised government agency
11. Have a grievance redressal machinery and resolve complaints of violation of the rules. The complaints shall be resolved within 72 hours of being reported.
The due diligence is aimed at ensuring an Open, Safe Trusted, and Accountable Internet by addressing the risk posed by fake accounts.
Furthermore, to address the potential damage due to fake accounts, it is reiterated that section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000 penalizes cheating by impersonating. Such impersonation may be by means of any communication device or computer resource. The punishment carried for such a crime is imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to one lakh rupees.
