New Delhi: The Internet Governance and Policy Project (IGAP) has published a comprehensive report titled "Social Media Transparency Reporting: A Performance Review," evaluating the compliance of major social media platforms with India’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The report examines the performance of significant social media intermediaries (SSMIs) such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Snap, ShareChat, and Koo, focusing on their content moderation strategies and grievance redressal mechanisms over the period from June 2021 to December 2023.
With concerns about harmful online content like misinformation and hate speech on the rise, IGAP’s report uncovers key shortcomings in transparency across platforms. It emphasizes the need for increased accountability to Indian users.
The report also offers a comparative analysis with international regulatory frameworks, including the European Union's Digital Services Act, and suggests several actionable reforms.
Key findings of the report include inconsistent reporting practices, unclear data on the use of automated monitoring tools, and complex grievance redressal systems.
While platforms such as Facebook and YouTube provide relatively comprehensive reports, others, including Koo and LinkedIn, offer limited data, making it difficult to fully assess their adherence to content moderation guidelines.
Additionally, platforms like Snap and ShareChat provide minimal information about the proactive removal of harmful content using automated systems.
The report stresses the need for more granular data, particularly related to content moderation in regional Indian languages, law enforcement requests, and actions against repeat offenders.
It also recommends the adoption of standardized reporting formats and improved oversight of automated tools to ensure better handling of issues like misinformation and synthetic media.
Rakesh Maheswari, the lead author of the report and a former Senior Director at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), stated, "Social media platforms have a responsibility to maintain a transparent and accountable digital environment, especially given their significant influence on public discourse.
This report underscores the need for uniform, detailed reporting practices in line with the IT Rules, 2021, and aims to close the gaps in content moderation across platforms operating in India."