India's move for committees to oversee online content raises flags

Concerns over free speech and whether online platforms will be made more accountable to users

- Debarshi Dasgupta

NEW DELHI - Ensuring online platforms remain accountable to their users is the rationale the Indian government put forth for its recent decision to set up grievance committees to oversee content moderation decisions of social media firms, as well as other platforms such as matrimonial websites, dating apps and e-commerce providers.

Formalised as part of a set of amendments to the country's IT law that came into effect on Oct 28, the move, aimed at giving Indians more weight in disputes with online platforms, has reignited concerns around potential greater government control of online content.

Any individual aggrieved by platform's in-house grievance officer can approach this Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) that will have the power to reverse a platform's decision, if necessary.

In May 2021, the country's IT Rules had mandated that every platform appoint a grievance officer to address consumers' complaints to ensure accountability.

"Unfortunately, that accountability solution, which is the grievance officer, has not worked," Minister for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar told CNBC TV18, an Indian business news channel, on Oct 29. The GAC, he added, will serve as an appeal mechanism for Indians.