India's social media rules risk deeper surveillance

Subject

Indian regulations on social media.

Significance

In the wake of links recently seen between outbreaks of vigilante violence and the spread of fake news on social media, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has changed the regulatory environment ahead of general elections due by May.

Impacts

• The Christchurch shootings will weaken Facebook’s argument that its content filters are effective.
• The weakening of encryption on services such as WhatsApp will cut their market appeal.
• Draft amendments will go through extensive consultations and revisions before being enacted.