Does the meta have bigger problems with the government? IT minister summons company over Instagram ads promoting child sexual abuse: Report | Today’s news
US tech giant Meta is reportedly in more hot water with the Centre, with Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ordering officials to summon the company over Instagram ads allegedly promoting child sex abuse material, a PTI report said citing sources.
They added that the ministry is seeking an explanation from Meta about the issue.
Is Meta in more trouble with the Indian government?
This is the second time this week that the government has turned the heat on the Met.
In July, the government issued a notice challenging the planned introduction of a username feature on WhatsApp, citing concerns that it could substantially increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation attacks.
He ordered the platform to suspend the function until consultations on the issue were completed “to the satisfaction of the government”.
The Center has also asked the Met to explain why action should not be taken under the IT Act and Rules regarding the new WhatsApp feature that may increase cyber crimes.
The government also reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a major social media intermediary, is bound by the duty of due diligence under the IT Act and Rules.
India is moving towards a dedicated regulatory framework for artificial intelligence
IT Minister S Krishnan told reporters today that the ministry is considering a special regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI), according to another PTI report. He added that while existing legal provisions have served to address initial concerns about deepfakes and artificial intelligence-generated synthetic content, “further regulation or legislation may be needed.”
“It’s a conversation that has started and both my minister (Vaishnaw) and I have previously noted that we will look at regulating AI when the time is right, and it seems the time is right and we will start looking at it. We have used the IT rules and other provisions of the existing law to address the various concerns that AI raises, but now it is probably time to look at separate legislation.
The secretary did not have a timetable for final legislation.
Especially Vaishnawin an interview to PTI in June, he said that current IT laws were created long before artificial intelligence came into the picture and that a new legal framework may be needed to deal with the changing landscape. He said discussions were ongoing with industry and that the government would try to find a balance between innovation and regulation.
