New Delhi: The Indian Ministry of Defense has now entrusted the Army with the authority to issue notices about illegal content on social media related to the Army.
For this purpose, the Ministry of Defense has appointed a senior military officer, Additional Directorate General Strategic Communication, as the “Nodal Officer”.
This officer can issue notices under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act including requests for removal of illegal content related to the Indian Army to social media platforms.
According to Defense Ministry insiders, “Prior to this notification, the Indian Army relied on the Ministry of Electronics and IT to remove or block illegal content.
With this notification, ADGs (Strategic Communication) can now identify cases and send direct notices to media platforms about illegal content related to the Indian Army.
According to sources: “It will then be up to the intermediaries how to handle this material” The impact of such material is immediate, and it takes longer for the Ministry of Electronics and IT to use it.
In February, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ordered the removal of a story by The Caravan about allegations against the Indian Army.
This section provides wider powers to various ministries, departments and law enforcement agencies to issue takedown notices with lesser limits than other sections of the IT Act.
Legal experts say that these facts make it sad that the army of any country, when they see their image in danger, they legislate. They say that restrictions are being imposed there to protect the army.
