Grievance Appellate Committee under IT Rules 2021

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Key takeaways

The Centre formed the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) under Rule 3A of the Information Technology Rules, 2021 to resolve user disputes digitally.
Digital citizens can file an appeal with the GAC within 30 days if they are dissatisfied with the platform's Grievance Officer.
Social media platforms must resolve general user complaints within 15 days and process content removal requests within 72 hours.
Complaints regarding intimate, impersonated, or morphed content must be addressed urgently within 24 hours under Rule 3(2)(b).

Google informed the Delhi High Court that it blocked a YouTube video in India following orders from the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC).
The legal question regarding a global blocking order for the video is currently pending before a Division Bench of the High Court.

The Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) operates as an online dispute resolution body under Rule 3A of the IT Rules, 2021 framed under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
This mechanism aims to create a safe, trusted, and accountable internet environment in India by improving platform accountability.
It acts as an appellate body where digital citizens (Digital Nagriks) can challenge decisions made by platform Grievance Officers (GO).
The entire appeal mechanism functions through a digital platform without requiring physical hearings.
A user must first file a complaint with the platform's Grievance Officer (GO) before approaching the GAC.
An aggrieved citizen can file an appeal with the GAC within 30 days of receiving an unsatisfactory reply or if no response arrives within 30 days.

Under Rule 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules, 2021, social media platforms must take proactive measures to prevent users from sharing prohibited content.
General user grievances submitted to platform grievance officers must be resolved within 15 days.
Requests demanding the removal of objectionable content must be processed within 72 hours.
Explicit, impersonated, or morphed content targeting individual privacy must be addressed within 24 hours under Rule 3(2)(b).