On February 25, the center devised new guidelines for regulating digital content platforms, online streaming, and social media. Amid this, a message went viral on social media claiming that according to the new guidelines, all social media accounts must be verified within three months via cell phones with a government ID.
Delhi Supreme Court Attorney Patash Umelo posted this claim on social media: ‘All SM accounts must be verified with a government ID within three months. Welcome step. Internet is now safer and more responsible. Government Announces Intermediate Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021 to Protect Users’ Rights. #Ottguidelines. ”
Umrao posted it on February 25 through its verified Twitter tutorial. India Today’s Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) found the allegation misleading. The government explained that it is not mandatory for citizens to verify their social media accounts, adding that it has only asked social media platforms to ensure an adequate mechanism for users who want to verify their accounts voluntarily.
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Below are the archived versions of similar claims: –
All social media accounts must be verified with a government ID via cell phones within three months.
Very much needed.
Now all the abusive anonymous cockroaches that use VPN will scurry back to the drains from which they crawled …
– #IndicTeam (@IndicTeam) 25 February 2021
All social media accounts must be verified with a government ID via cell phones within three months.
Very much needed.
Now all the abusive anonymous cockroaches that use VPN will scurry back to the drains from which they crawled …
– Bhanu Sharma (@MrBhanuSharma) 25 February 2021
AFWA investigation
The AFWA could not locate any credible news report or government order on the mandatory verification of social media handles in India.
The new intermediary guidelines and code for digital media ethics were announced in a press conference chaired by Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) of India shared a video of Prasad talking about verifying social media accounts on his official Twitter manual.
“Users who wish to voluntarily verify their accounts will be provided with an appropriate mechanism to verify their accounts and with a demonstrable and visible sign of verification: Union Minister,” reads the caption of the video.
It can also be heard that Prasad says in the video that the social media platforms need to ensure that a voluntary verification mechanism is put in place.
Users who wish to voluntarily verify their accounts will be provided with an appropriate mechanism to verify their accounts and with a verifiable and visible verification mark: Union Minister @rsprasad
#ResponsibleFreedom#OTTplatformsRead: https://t.co/4P1rLLjlnFpic.twitter.com/8JVZjUhAu2
– PIB India (@PIB_India) 25 February 2021
The AFWA also deposits the press release on the Digital Media Ethics Code issued by the Center, which refers to a ‘Voluntary User Authentication Mechanism’. According to the government, this is only a voluntary step and not binding on the users.
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“Users who wish to voluntarily verify their accounts will be provided with an appropriate mechanism to verify their accounts and with a demonstrable and visible verification mark,” reads the press release under the subheading “Voluntary User Authentication Mechanism.”
It further stated that the new standards would take effect from ‘the date of publication in the Gazette’ and that the points under the Additional Appropriate Allocation to be followed by the significant intermediary of social media, ‘three months after publication of this rules will take place. ”
Furthermore, in an interview with News18, Prasad said that the voluntary mechanism can only be determined by social media companies and not by the Center. Meanwhile, the fact-checking department of PIB also confirmed that verification of accounts is not mandatory and that the viral claim is misleading.
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