Govt wants to facilitate info flow on its policies via social media: Minister

The government wants to strengthen the Information and Broadcasting ministry's new media wing to facilitate flow of information on its policies and programmes through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

In a written reply to a question, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said social media platforms are intermediaries under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and are accordingly regulated under the act and the rules framed under it.

His response came to a question on whether the government had constituted committees over the last four years to suggest a framework to keep a watch on social media.

"The government has not constituted any committee in the recent past specifically to suggest a framework to keep a watch on social media. However, an interministerial committee on 'Investment in Critical National Infrastructure, Digital Broadcasting and related issues' has been set up by the government in May, 2018," Rathore said.

Asked whether the government is hiring any social media expert to monitor the social media, he said, "The government proposes to strengthen the New Media Wing of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to facilitate information flow regarding its policies and programmes through social media platforms i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube etc., which inter-alia, involves hiring of resource persons."