Recent Ban on Social Media and its Security Implications:

 

Key Highlights:

• Due to reasons of National Security, the Government has once again blocked some YouTube channels.
• The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has blocked 8 YouTube News channels this time.
• The Government of India also banned several Chinese Apps including VLC Media Player
• The channels have been blocked under IT Rules, 2021.

About:

• The YouTube News channels were also used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir.
• The content was observed to be completely false and sensitive from the perspective of national security.
• The blocked YouTube channels in India include -Loktantra TV, U&V TV, AM Razvi, Gauravshali Pawan Mithilanchal, SeeTop5TH, Sarkari Update, Sab Kuch Dekho.

New IT Rules 2021 for Social Media:   Social media companies are prohibited from hosting or publishing any unlawful information. This information is “in relation to the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, public order, friendly relations with foreign countries, etc”.   

Traceability Mechanism: This provision requires the social media platforms to compulsorily identify the first originator of the information in India, upon government or court order.The IT rules 2021 call for social media companies to publish a monthly compliance report.Social media platforms are classified into two categories Social media intermediaries – Platforms that have a limited user base.            Significant social media intermediaries – These are the platforms with a         large user base.

Security Implications:

• There has been a sharp uptick in cyber attack cases in the country since the beginning of this year.
• According to section 69A of the IT Act 2000, the Union government has the power to ban/restrict applications and websites that threaten security, integrity of India.
• The VLC media player was infiltrated with malware by a hacker group named ‘Cicada’ with Chinese links.
• Some reports mentioned the reason behind the ban of the player is its link with China.
• Indian user data was being sent abroad and cyber attacks were launched in India.

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