Microblogging platform Twitter has lost its status as an intermediary platform in India after its failure to comply with the new IT rules, reported news agency ANI.
Quoting a government source, the news agency said that Twitter is the only mainstream social media platform that has not adhered to the law.
If its intermediary status is taken away, Twitter would be treated as a publisher and be liable for punishment under any law if a case is filed against it for alleged unlawful content.
The microblogging site’s top executives, including the country managing director, also stand to face police questioning and criminal liability under IPC.
Earlier on June 9, Twitter had written to the government that it is making every effort to comply with new guidelines concerning social media companies and has appointed a Nodal Contractual Person (NCP) and Residence Grievance Officer (RGO) on a contractual basis and was in advanced stages of ‘finalising the appointment to the role of chief compliance offier,” sources told ANI.
Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had on June 5 said that it had given Twitter one last notice to comply with the new rules concerning social media companies.
The ministry said that the New Intermediary Guidelines Rules have become effective from May 26.
Meanwhile, after losing its status as an intermediary platform in India, Twitter on Wednesday said that it will continue to make every effort to comply with the government’s new IT rules.
The Twitter spokesperson said that they are keeping the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) appraised at every step of the process and the Interim Chief Compliance Officer has been retained and details will be shared with Ministry directly soon.