Cong MP raises issue of social media censorship

Senior Congress MP Rajeev Gowda on Thursday raised the issue of social media platforms "censoring" user-generated content.

Raising the matter during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, Gowda said accounts of a prominent lawyer, journalist and Dalit activists have been suspended by social media platforms.

"What we see here is that there is a structural problem out there with unregulated Internet platforms. They need to bring in some guidelines so we have a clear sense of what is allowed and what is not and appeal mechanisms...otherwise we are seeing free speech subject to private censorship, " the Congress MP said.

Referring to a report, he also said the Indian government sends most number of requests for take down of content to variety of Internet intermediaries.

"We want to known from the government on what basis these take downs are taking place. These all are shrouded in secrecy," Gowda said