Govt has no intention of interfering with social media: Sibal

After the furore over his statement on content monitoring on Internet, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today said the government has no intention of "interfering" with the social media, nor does its plan to evolve guidelines amounting to restriction or regulation.

He said the industry should develop a set of guidelines for screening of objectionable content after it is uploaded.

"Whatever I have said in the press or during the interview does not amount to restriction or regulation. It is evolving a consensus that is acceptable to media...It is not my intent ever to interfere with social media in whatsoever form," Sibal said.

"I wanted them [Internet companies] to form their own guidelines by their own standards. The intent from the government is that we want them to take the action," he added.

Sibal said he would meet Internet majors like Google and Facebook on December 15 for formulating guidelines for monitoring content on social media platforms and removal of objectionable content from websites.

"We will have a discussion, a round-table on December 15 of this month. We will ask for suggestions...Those guidelines will be in the public domain," he said.

Addressing reporters on December 6, Sibal had said social websites need to ensure that uploading of derogatory material is stopped.

He had said if the social networking sites are not willing to cooperate with the government on stopping incendiary material, "then it is the duty of the government to think of steps that we need".