Centre seeks accountability on social media safety, algorithmic transparency

Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday put the onus on social media platforms to proactively prevent online harm and protect users, calling for greater accountability on child safety, women’s safety, algorithmic transparency and grievance redressal, but stopped short of indicating whether the government was considering withdrawing their statutory safe-harbour protection.

Vaishnaw said social media companies could no longer remain passive intermediaries as the digital ecosystem evolved and must take responsibility for the harmful consequences of content circulated through their platforms, including cyber fraud and so-called digital arrest scams.