The Cellular Operators Association of India(COAI) which includes incumbent telecom operators like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India has registered its objection against the government’s plan to regulate internet platforms. The Government of India is mulling to regulate internet platforms to keep a check on fake news, a move which has been termed as violation of individual privacy by COAI.
Interestingly, the country’s best 4G LTE service provider as per Ookla, Reliance Jio has stood in support of the government decision citing the protest by the association as illogical.
.The operator claims that platforms should not become the breeding ground for unlawful activities and spark violence and extremism. COAI, on the other hand, claims that the decision could hamper the individual privacy of citizens, free speech and democracy.
COAI in its response against the amendments floated by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has said that “lack of clarity in relation to the obligations under the intermediary guidelines could lead to inadvertent non-compliance resulting in arbitrary prosecution.”
The ambiguity of these guidelines “could also drive several intermediaries out of business in India and preclude the possibility of new intermediaries developing in the future”, said COAI in a letter to the government. The ministry has proposed to modify the information technology norms under section 79 of the IT act. The act currently includes a legal cover for technology operators.
The new amendments which were rolled out in December last year mandate the companies to track and report the origin of messages within 3 days after receiving a complaint from law enforcement authorities.
