MeitY launches Grievance Appellate Committee which will investigate users’ plaints about content in social media

Source: The post is based on the article “MeitY launches Grievance Appellate Committee which will investigate users’ plaints about content in social media” published in PIB on 29th February 2023

What is the News?

The Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology has launched the Grievance Appellate Committee(GAC).

What is the Grievance Appellate Committee(GAC)?

The Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) is established under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 made under the Information Technology Act, 2000. 

GAC aims to ensure a Safe & Trusted and Accountable Internet for Indian users. 

The GAC deals with the appeals of users (Digital Nagriks) aggrieved by decisions of Grievance Officers of social media intermediaries and other intermediaries on complaints of users or victims against violation of the IT Rules and any other matters pertaining to the computer resources made available by the intermediaries.

The GAC is an online dispute resolution mechanism.The entire appeal process, from filing to decision is in digital mode.

The DigitalNagriks can file an appeal with the GACs within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of communication from the intermediary’s Grievance Officer.This Committee will subsequently endeavour to address the user’s appeal within a period of 30 days.