While major platforms like Facebook and YouTube provide comprehensive transparency reports, others such as Koo and LinkedIn fall short, making it challenging to assess their adherence to India’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, a report by Internet Governance and Policy Project revealed. The report also highlights a lack of clarity regarding automated content monitoring.
Platforms like Snap and ShareChat offer minimal disclosure on the effectiveness of their systems in combating harmful content, raising serious questions about their accountability measures. Additionally, the grievance redressal mechanisms employed by platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X are often complex, utilising both global and India-specific systems, which can lead to user confusion and inconsistencies in data reporting.
To enhance transparency and accountability, IGAP outlines several actionable recommendations. First, social media platforms should provide more granular disclosures, detailing user complaints, content removals, and the diversity of Indian languages used in moderation practices. Second, standardised reporting formats should be adopted across platforms to improve data accessibility and comparability.
Lastly, the report emphasises the importance of improved oversight of automated tools, calling for clearer reporting on the types of content flagged and removed, especially concerning emerging challenges like misinformation, deepfakes, and synthetic media. Implementing these recommendations aims to foster a more transparent digital environment, ultimately benefiting Indian users.
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