Context: Recently, Central Govt established three Grievance Appellate Committees based on the recently amended Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021).
About Grievance Appellate Committees:
It is a critical piece of overall policy and legal framework to ensure that the Internet in India is Open, Safe and Trusted and Accountable.
The GAC will be a virtual Digital platform that will operate only online and digitally – wherein the entire appeal process, from filing of appeal to the decision thereof, shall be conducted digitally.
The need for GAC was created due to large numbers of grievances being left unaddressed or unsatisfactorily addressed by Internet Intermediaries.
To create a culture of responsiveness amongst all Internet Platforms and Intermediaries towards their consumers.
Users will have the option to appeal against decision of the grievance officer of the social media intermediaries and other online intermediaries before this new appellate body.
The Committee will endeavour to address the user’s appeal within a period of 30 days.
The online platform will be operational in one month of this notification of the Grievance Appellate Committee, i.e. from 1st March 2023.
Periodic reviews of GACs and reporting and disclosures of GAC orders will also be part of the process.
