Social Media Accountability

One of the most potent and influencing sources of information to which individuals are exposed is the media. Due to our increased interest in new technologies, people increasingly obtain their information from the media. Due to certain users’ irresponsibility, the number of users is growing quickly and problems are emerging. To effectively harness the power of media and information, users’ responsibility must be demonstrated. Information and media consumers should always act responsibly. Being accountable makes us more conscious of our actions. We must exercise caution while uploading personal information in order to respect others’ privacy, safeguard our own accounts, and keep ourselves safe. To avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications, we shouldn’t disseminate untrue rumors or trivial issues. The social media landscape is rife with false information, hate speech, and other detrimental components. They are charged with swaying people’s perspectives and ideas. Additionally, the owners of these platforms have been found to sell priceless data. In recent months, laws to control influential social media corporations have been developed in a number of nations.

The number of people using the internet and using social media has dramatically increased in India in recent years. These figures have doubled as more people use social media to connect with their friends and family as a result of the pandemic and the accompanying lockdown. A worry about the lack of transparency, accountability, and users’ rights in relation to digital media is one that has been sparked by the explosion of the internet.

The Problem is Significant Because:

• By taking advantage of flaws in Facebook’s system and stealing “access tokens,” or digital keys to access accounts, hackers were able to access the 50 million accounts.
• The inquiry revealed that sometimes, even when no express agreement was granted, device manufacturers may access data on users’ and their friends’ relationship statuses, political opinions, geographic locations, etc.

Critical Issues Related to Social Media:

• Social media sites like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are wonderful venues that let people freely express themselves. It does, however, have a very dark side that has affected all platforms ever since they were founded.
• Social media sites’ decisions on what to do with content are the real issue, not merely what users post.
• Social media corporations are far from impartial. They continuously choose which content to highlight, elevate, and recommend to other users.
• Major news outlets recently exposed how Facebook’s own internal research proved that it has failed to stop the spread of false information and hate speech.
• The misuse of social media platforms to promote incorrect information, obscene photos, child pornography, blasphemy, etc. is a serious issue and should be raised.
• Through social media, racism, hate, and threats are on the rise.
• Without repercussions, one is free to act, look, and talk however they like.
• One of the key advantages of social networks is their “freedom,” which has helped them succeed over the past ten years. However, keeping law and order is becoming increasingly difficult due to this “freedom.”

Norms and Regulations on the Social Media in India:

• The Indian Press Council: It is a statutory organization that was established by a Parliamentary Act that keeps watching against fake news. It can forewarn, chastise, or condemn the newspaper or journalistic organization.
• Laws pertaining to contempt of court: False information concerning judicial processes would violate privilege, and false information about Parliament and other legislative bodies would be covered by rules of contempt of court.
• The IT Act of 2000: It strives to strengthen cyber security in India by criminalizing offenses connected to cybercrime while facilitating positive uses of cyberspace in India.
• Section 66-A: This section addresses offensive and disparaging content on social media. It was covered by the media because, according to analysts, authorities frequently utilized it to stifle free speech and expression. Finally, the SC ruled against it.
• Section 69-A: This section grants the authority the right to remove any online content that, among other things, violates the sovereignty and integrity of India and the security of the states. Numerous Chinese apps were prohibited by the authorities in accordance with the Section.

Conclusion:

Social media sites’ decisions on what to do with content are the real issue, not merely what users post. Social media corporations are far from impartial. They continuously choose which content to highlight, elevate, and recommend to other users. Given their business strategy, which prioritizes volume over all else, they frequently intentionally amplify extreme, controversial content, including false information and risky conspiracy theories. Regulators must intervene at this point. It’s necessary to specifically specify what an “internet intermediary” is and to create a new category that more accurately describes what these businesses actually do, such as “digital curators,” whose algorithms determine what content to boost, what to amplify, and how to curate our stuff. Social media literacy is necessary so that people can see when democratic processes are being corrupted and can tell the difference between fact and fiction. On the other side, the police urgently need an organized, well-designed media policy with training and enforcement measures.