Minister of State for IT Rajiv Chandrashekhar on Saturday said the government has blocked several social media handles circulating “fake and provocative” content on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. The owners of these accounts are being identified for action under the law, he added.
Amid heavy crackdown on hate posts, sources said the objectionable content pertains to a fake video of a cabinet briefing, an animated fake video showing violence against the prime minister and derogatory posts targeting Hindu women uploaded on social media handles.
“Taskforce on safe and reliable internet at work @GoI_MeitY. Handles trying to promote fake/provocative content on Twitter, YouTube, FB, Insta have been blocked,” Chandrashekhar tweeted on Saturday.
The minister said owners of such accounts are being identified for action under the law, and added that the platforms will be reviewed on their due diligence. On Friday evening, the minister had responded to a tweet, urging him to take action against “those making a very violent video that shows the PM”, which is “in public domain since December 2020”. .
The minister had replied, “At work. @GoI_MeitY takes the responsibility of keeping the internet safe and reliable and holds the moderators accountable for content and due diligence very seriously”. Sources said the government has identified 73 Twitter handles, 4 pieces of YouTube content and 1 Instagram game.
Accordingly, 73 Twitter handles have been suspended, 4 YouTube content and Instagram games in particular have been removed.
Officials said on Friday that the Delhi Police had registered the case after watching a distorted video of the cabinet committee meeting in which some people tried to show that the meeting was against the Sikh community. The Center last year introduced stringent rules to make social media platforms more accountable to end-users in one of the world’s largest internet markets. The rules require social media companies to swiftly remove controversial content, appoint grievance redressal officers and assist in investigations.
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