Government examines if Meta recommendation system deciding 'what-to-show-to-whom' fits intermediary status

The issue assumes significance because Section 79 of the IT Act grants intermediaries a "safe harbour" from liability for third-party content, subject to compliance with the provisions of the law and due diligence requirements.

If a platform determines what content gets shown to users, it amounts to publishing, and platforms would then have to take responsibility for their actions. The issue assumes significance as intermediaries enjoy certain legal protections under the Act, subject to compliance with…