Suggestions not accepted; Will Facebook and WhatsApp be locked tomorrow?

New Delhi∙ A crucial decision on whether social media like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter will be banned in the country may be taken tomorrow. There is a growing concern that the ban will be met in a situation where the guidance for social media is not accepted. The Centre had directed the social media to follow the guidelines by May 25.

The assessments are that if the new instructions are not followed, the protection and status of social media will be lost. It is also understood that there will be criminal legal proceedings if the rules are not followed. The main proposal made by the government was to appoint complaint officers from India for social media. Officers will be empowered to monitor posts and so on and, if necessary, remove them. Apart from social media, these instructions also apply to OTT platforms.

If the guidelines are violated, there will be a committee to take action. A Facebook spokesman said it was in talks with the government on implementing the law. The Facebook spokesperson added that it is committed to providing better service and complying with the law.