NEW DELHI: In a powerful message, IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday warned social media companies + corresponding to Facebook of "stringent action", if any attempt was once made by way of them to steer the rustic's electoral procedure.
"...let me make it very, very clear, we fully support freedom of press, speech and expression; we fully support free exchange of ideas on social media. But any attempt, covert or overt, by social media, including Facebook, of trying to influence India's electoral process through undesirable means will neither be appreciated nor be tolerated," Prasad mentioned.
"If need be, stringent action will be taken," the minister added.
Facebook is in the course of an argument over a potential breach of person confidentiality. It was once reported that Cambridge Analytica, a London-based information consultancy firm, has allegedly been harvesting millions of Facebook users' non-public information to unfairly influence election effects.
Prasad cautioned the social media large and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg of repercussions below IT Act in case any information breach got here to mild.
"Mr Mark Zuckerberg you better note the observation of the IT Minister of India. We welcome the FB profile in India, but if any data theft of Indians is done through the collusion of FB system, it shall not be tolerated. We have got stringent power in the IT Act, we shall use it, including summoning you in India," Prasad warned.
This isn't the primary standoff between Indian policymakers and Facebook. In 2016, TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) had issued laws on discriminatory pricing over web access that had resulted in the ban of platforms like Facebook's Free Basics.
Asked if the federal government would begin a probe on information use by way of Facebook, Prasad mentioned that India had a regulator in the type of TRAI, and in case of any specific complaints, the similar would be taken below a structured investigation.
"We have got very robust mechanism available, we will look into it. But today, this very stern observation I gave that let my warning be heard across the Atlantic far away in California," he mentioned.
(With PTI inputs)
"...let me make it very, very clear, we fully support freedom of press, speech and expression; we fully support free exchange of ideas on social media. But any attempt, covert or overt, by social media, including Facebook, of trying to influence India's electoral process through undesirable means will neither be appreciated nor be tolerated," Prasad mentioned.
"If need be, stringent action will be taken," the minister added.
Facebook is in the course of an argument over a potential breach of person confidentiality. It was once reported that Cambridge Analytica, a London-based information consultancy firm, has allegedly been harvesting millions of Facebook users' non-public information to unfairly influence election effects.
Prasad cautioned the social media large and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg of repercussions below IT Act in case any information breach got here to mild.
"Mr Mark Zuckerberg you better note the observation of the IT Minister of India. We welcome the FB profile in India, but if any data theft of Indians is done through the collusion of FB system, it shall not be tolerated. We have got stringent power in the IT Act, we shall use it, including summoning you in India," Prasad warned.
This isn't the primary standoff between Indian policymakers and Facebook. In 2016, TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) had issued laws on discriminatory pricing over web access that had resulted in the ban of platforms like Facebook's Free Basics.
Asked if the federal government would begin a probe on information use by way of Facebook, Prasad mentioned that India had a regulator in the type of TRAI, and in case of any specific complaints, the similar would be taken below a structured investigation.
"We have got very robust mechanism available, we will look into it. But today, this very stern observation I gave that let my warning be heard across the Atlantic far away in California," he mentioned.
(With PTI inputs)
Ravi Shankar Prasad warns Mark Zuckerberg, says can 'summon you' to India
![Ravi Shankar Prasad warns Mark Zuckerberg, says can 'summon you' to India]()
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March 21, 2018
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