2021 brings new norms for social media platforms to follow; firms share concerns but subscribe
India TV NewsExplosive confrontations and standoffs between social media giants and the government marked a stormy start to 2021, and the coming year promises to be just as action-packed as India brings in legislation to protect personal data, enforces tighter checks on digital platforms and regulates cross border transfer of information. The year began on a turbulent note for social media platforms when the government asked Twitter to block tweets and handles in connection with the farmers' agitation over agricultural laws, which have now been repealed. WhatsApp had also moved the Delhi High Court, challenging the new social media rules arguing that the traceability provision is unconstitutional and against people's fundamental right to privacy as underlined by the Supreme Court decision. And for social media companies in particular, their 'timelines' will be viewed through 'filters' of data privacy, user safety and compliance, in letter and spirit to India's new digital rules.