Over the years, the internet availability and growing influence of social media platforms has caused anxiety in the world. The two largest democracies America and India presently face massive challenges in regulating the content appearing on social media platforms.
Even during the elections in the US recently after former President Donald Trump refused to concede his defeat in presidential elections was blocked by three social media giants including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter for spreading false information and inciting violence.
This was followed by the internet shutdown in New York City after Trump’s supporters stormed into Capitol Hill. But the cooperation with the US government to ensure peace returns by social media companies was worth appreciation. Similarly, in India in many parts of NCR, the internet is partially snapped at farmers protest sites.
The decision was taken after scenes like Capitol Hill were witnessed on India’s Republic day with hundreds of people storming into the Red Forte and hoisting a religious flag followed by violence.
The government responded with curbs on internet services. In the farthest part of North India, Jammu Kashmir was denied high speed internet services for over 550 days after Article 370 was abrogated in 2019. The move was taken on the pretext of national security.
On the other hand, the Supreme Court of India is hearing a petition filed by Facebook after it refused to appear before the Parliamentary Peace and Harmony Committee. The committee summoned Facebook for its alleged role in Delhi riots that took place a year ago and witnessed violence.
Last year only, the Facebook marketing head was forced to step down after reports confirmed that a video shared by fringe political element on a platform was not pulled down fearing the company may lose business.
While in general the social Media is posing open threats to the peace and harmony in present times, it is also being accused for supporting the particular political ideologies merely for the business interests. Now to minimize the adverse effects of social media and put it under scrutiny, the Union government is appointing ‘cyber volunteers’.
The project is started from Jammu and Kashmir and Tripora in the first phase. The volunteers are entrusted to “identify flag and report to the government illegal and unlawful content, including child pornography, rape, terrorism, radicalization and anti-national activities”.
This may come as a relief in a big way and elements inimical to peace and harmony can be identified. But the question still remains the partial approach of social media platforms especially Facebook which is accused of being selective. How this side is going to be tackled will be a big question ahead.
As the influence of social media platforms is growing unprecedentedly in present times, there is no proper mechanism to regulate the companies. They continue to rule-the roost our minds, economies and polity only to serve their own interests. Even data privacy is emerging as a major challenge.
While the presence of social media in our lives is unavoidable now, it is for the government to formulate the policy that may regulate these digital tech giants and hold them responsible like the traditional media houses.
