Being a social media intermediary with more than 50 lakh users, Signal is required to make specific appointments under the IT Rules 2021 which came into effect on May 25. You are reading it here first: End-to-end encrypted messaging platform Signal Messenger has not yet complied with the Information Technology (Intermediary Rules and Digital Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) confirmed to MediaNama in response to a Right to Information (RTI) request. In the RTI, MeitY also said that 'it does not maintain compliance status (to the IT Rules 2021), of all intermediaries". In the RTI, MediaNama had inquired whether Signal has complied with the IT Rules 2021 and if it has, requested MeitY to provide details of Grievance Redressal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer -- as mandated to be appointed under the rules. The ministry on July 13, simply said 'No' to the question. Earlier, a Hindustan Times report from June 24, citing unnamed sources had claimed that the Moxie Marlinspike-headed Signal was not in compliance with the new rules. Why it matters? MeitY's response comes at a time the Indian government has been up in arms against micro-blogging platform Twitter for not complying with the rules that were notified in February 2021. Both Signal and Twitter are significant social media intermediaries (SSMIs) as they have more than 50 lakh users in India, but there is a stark difference in the way the Indian government has dealt with their non-compliance. The Indian government…
