India weighs social media code for officials

The Indian government is contemplating the implementation of a social media code of conduct for its officials and employees, according to official sources. This proposal has been deliberated at the highest levels of governance, with authorities examining the necessity for guidelines to prevent government employees from sharing videos or expressing opinions on subjects deemed inappropriate on platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram.

Once finalized, the code is expected to encompass officers and employees across all ranks, although the specific timeline for its adoption and the nature of the regulations remain uncertain.

The drive for this initiative stems from a surge in instances where government officials have been posting content on social media that highlights their work and official positions, a practice that the government deems inappropriate for public servants. Furthermore, there is a perceived need for a formal framework due to the current absence of specific rules governing the social media activities of government officers and employees.

This consideration comes amid a broader trend of tighter government oversight of social media platforms and online content. In a recent development, the government shortened the timeline for social media platforms to remove content involving sensitive matters from 24 hours to just two hours. These changes to the Information Technology Rules, 2021, were introduced on February 10, 2024, as part of efforts to enhance the regulatory framework for addressing issues arising from synthetic generated information (SGI), such as deepfakes and AI-generated content.

The government has also expedited the timeframe for grievance redressal, reducing it from 72 hours to 2 hours for sensitive matters.