Paper: GS – III, Subject: Internal Security, Topic: Challenges to Internal Security through communication networks, Issue: Social Media Regulation: Balancing Freedom, Safety, and Accountability.
Context:
Recently, the government issued notices to Meta and Telegram over harmful and illegal online content. Meta was asked to disable Instagram advertisements allegedly linked to Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) within seven days. Telegram was asked to act against piracy and respond within 15 days.
Key Takeaways:
Explanation:
- CSEAM: Material sexually exploiting children; Instagram ads allegedly linked users to such content sold via Telegram.
- Piracy: Unauthorised distribution of copyrighted material; Telegram’s lax file limits enabled film/book piracy and the NEET paper leak.
- Disinformation: Deliberate spread of false information; post-Pahalgam attack (2025), fabricated claims about military leadership went viral.
- Deepfakes: AI-generated synthetic audio/video mimicking real people; the 2023 Rashmika Mandanna deepfake sparked national debate.
- Encryption barriers: End-to-end encryption blocking message traceability; WhatsApp has legally contested the IT Rules’ traceability mandate.
- Terrorism: Use of platforms for radicalisation and propaganda; The Resistance Front amplified messaging online after Pahalgam.
- Organised crime: Use of platforms for illicit trade; Telegram channels have hosted drug sales and investment frauds.
- Echo chambers: Algorithmic feeds showing only belief-aligned content; this reinforces polarisation and deepens misinformation’s reach.
- Privacy violations: Unauthorised collection/use of personal data; the Cambridge Analytica scandal (2018) exposed political profiling via Facebook data.
- Cyberbullying: Online harassment, especially of minors; McAfee reports 85% of Indian children have faced cyberbullying.
- Mental health impact: Excessive use linked to psychological harm; the World Happiness Report links heavy use to declining adolescent well-being.
Government Measures:
- IT Act, 2000: Provides the legal foundation for intermediary liability (Section 79) and content blocking (Section 69A).
- IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021: Mandates grievance officers, compliance officers, message traceability, and monthly compliance reporting.
- Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023: Regulates collection, processing, and consent for personal data, addressing privacy violations by platforms.
- Telecommunications Act, 2023: Provides government powers to intercept messages and suspend services on security grounds, replacing colonial-era telegraph laws.
- State-level proposals: Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh’s age-restriction measures mirror Australia’s 2025 model.
Way Forward:
- Build proactive, technology-driven monitoring rather than relying on external investigations.
- Enact a transparency law covering disclosures, fact-checking, and de-platforming standards.
- Regulate algorithmic amplification and echo chambers, not just individual content.
- Strengthen international cooperation for enforcement against foreign-headquartered platforms.
Conclusion:
Social media’s misuse now spans child safety, terrorism, crime, and public trust. Balanced regulation that secures citizens without stifling legitimate expression is India’s central digital governance challenge.
Source: (The Indian Express, The Hindu)
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