NEW DELHI, March 21 - India today warned social media platforms like Facebook of stringent action if any attempt was made by them to influence the country�s electoral process through �undesirable means�.
Amid probe by US privacy watchdog and British lawmakers over a potential breach of user confidentiality by Facebook, IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Indian government fully supports freedom of press, speech and expression and is all for free exchange of ideas on social media.
However, any attempt by social media sites, including Facebook, to influence India�s electoral process through undesirable means will not be tolerated, he told reporters in Parliament House complex.
�...Let me make it very, very clear, we fully support freedom of press, speech and expression; we fully support free exchange of ideas on social media. But any attempt, covert or overt, by social media, including Facebook, of trying to influence India�s electoral process through undesirable means will neither be appreciated nor be tolerated,� Prasad said.
�If need be, stringent action will be taken,� he added.
Stating that 20 crore Indians were using Facebook, making it the company�s largest market outside of the US, Prasad cautioned the social media giant and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg of repercussions under IT Act in case of any data breach came to light.
�Mr Mark Zuckerberg you better note the observation of the IT Minister of India. We welcome the FB profile in India, but if any data theft of Indians is done through the collusion of FB system, it shall not be tolerated. We have got stringent power in the IT Act, we shall use it, including summoning you in India,� Prasad warned.
Asked if the government would initiate a probe on data use by Facebook, Prasad said that India had a regulator in the form of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), and in case of any specific complaints, the same would be taken under a structured investigation.
�We have got very robust mechanism available, we will look into it. But today, this very stern observation I gave that let my warning be heard across the Atlantic far away in California,� he said. � PTI
