By Kavita Mistry 
A Group of Ministers (GoM) has been constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government in order to oversee the regulation of social media platforms within the state.
AP Govt Forms Ministerial Panel to Address Social Media Accountability and Citizen Rights
This move reflects the increasing concern over digital accountability, misinformation, and the protection of citizen rights in the online space.
This GoM comprises of several key cabinet ministers, that include IT and Human Resource Development Minister Nara Lokesh, Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav, Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, Housing and Information & Public Relations (I&PR) Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy, and Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha.
The same bunch of important people have been assigned the responsibility of reviewing the existing legal and regulatory framework governing social media platforms in India. It will identify gaps in compliance, enforcement, and accountability, especially in the context of increasing digital influence on public opinion and social behaviour.
Study Global Social Media Governance & Recommend Regulation Strategies
Additionally, the group is supposed to study the international best practices related to social media governance which includes examining global models around transparency standards, platform responsibilities, content moderation, and user protection mechanisms.
Specific strategies to counter harmful content, fake news, online abuse, content posing a threat to national security shall be recommended while proposing ways to ensure safeguarding freedom of expression and citizen rights, including the possible creation or reinforcement of nodal monitoring agencies. The Commissioner/Director of I&PR will act as the convener, and the GoM may seek input from domain experts and other departments.