Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and WhatsApp have told the Union Home Ministry that they will soon deploy ‘proactive, Artificial Intelligence (AI) based tools’ to check the spread of hate messages and rumours inciting violence and crimes against women. Anyone found involved in disseminating fake news creating social tension or pornographic contents inciting sex crimes will be identified, name disclosed and prosecuted.

This was agreed upon after a series of meetings between representatives of the social media platforms and Central Government officials led by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, a Home Ministry official said. The social media sites have agreed to deploy ‘proactive, AI-based tools’ to check spread of hate messages and rumours inciting violence and crimes against women. Such content will be automatically removed from their platforms, the official said.

There were problems in implementation or enforcement of directives given by law enforcement agencies under the IT Act and the Telegraph Act but the level of compliance has now gone up to 80 per cent from 60 per cent, while the time taken to take such action has gone down, the official said.

The compliance period has come down from 72 hours to 24 hours and it was agreed that if a case is made out in any incident, the person will be identified, name disclosed and he/she will be prosecuted. The social media platforms have engaged NGOs working in the field and appointed grievance redressal cell for prompt action.

Earlier, the Government had said social media sites were “slow” in removing objectionable or unlawful content which allegedly aided the spread of hate messages, rumours inciting violence and crimes against women and they were warned of strict legal action if they failed to comply with the directives of law enforcement agencies.

In the recent past, some objectionable content which could potentially disrupt public peace or law and order and incite criminal offences, including communal violence, have been posted on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube.

Home Secretary had held the meetings in June and October. A series of meetings were conducted by senior officers of the Home Ministry, the Delhi Police and police officers of other States to sensitise the country representatives of social medial platforms about gravity of unlawful or objectionable content posted on their platforms, and their possible consequences.