Cong slams govt over social-media 'crackdown', says undermining free speech threat to democracy
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New Delhi (PTI): The Congress slammed the BJP-led Centre on Thursday for its "crackdown" on social media, including X, YouTube and Instagram, by allegedly ordering the closure of several accounts and said undermining free speech is a threat to democracy.
Addressing a press conference here, Congress spokesperson and the head of the the party's social media and digital platforms wing, Supriya Shrinate, claimed that multiple accounts across various social media platforms have either been blocked or restricted under official directives.
She alleged that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to suppress dissent and evade accountability by curbing digital expression.
Shrinate stated that several X, YouTube and Instagram accounts that questioned government policies or highlighted public issues were either blocked, suspended or had content removed without adequate explanation.
She further claimed that even independent content creators and media platforms, including YouTube channels and magazine-related posts, have faced action, while citing the instance of police detaining a YouTuber who reported on LPG cylinder shortages in Noida.
Calling it a "serious attack on freedom of expression", the Congress spokesperson said she has personally received multiple notices from social-media platforms regarding content restrictions.
She accused the government of attempting to extend control over digital platforms after influencing mainstream media, terming it a "new trend" in the country of first removing content and then blocking accounts.
Targeting Modi, Shrinate said the government is "intolerant of criticism" and accused it of weakening democratic institutions by restricting opposition voices and public questioning.
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Madhu Kishwar booked over misleading content on social media
Chandigarh (PTI): Madhu Kishwar has been booked following a complaint by a Chandigarh resident over the alleged circulation of forged and misleading content on social media.
An FIR has been lodged against Kishwar and some other social media users under relevant sections, including 196 (criminalises acts that promote enmity, hatred, or ill-will between groups based on religion, race, language), 336 (1) (forgery) and 356 (criminal defamation) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act at Police Station Sector-26 here.
According to an official statement issued by the Chandigarh police on Monday, a city-based complainant on April 19 alleged that some forged and misleading social media posts and video clips with obscene text and content were being circulated by various social media users, misidentifying the person in the video.
Further investigation into the matter is underway.
As per the complainant, it is a deliberate act of creating a false electronic record using obscene words and phrases, having knowledge and sufficient reason to believe that the posts are misleading and false, with the intent to cause damage or injury.
The video, which circulated with the intent to cause harm to the reputation of a constitutional authority and to disturb public peace and tranquility, should be investigated, and appropriate action should be taken, according to the complainant.
As per the complainant, the person seen in the video is a travel vlogger whose wife regularly posts updates about their activities on social media. The original video was shared from her social media account.
"As per the statement of the woman, she disclosed that the person in the video shared from her account is her husband. Statements of her husband and another lady in the video have also been recorded during preliminary investigation," said police in the statement.
Meanwhile, Kishwar, in a social media post, said a team of Chandigarh police had visited her late Monday night to serve her notice regarding the FIR registered against her.
"Since the law forbids the police to visit or arrest women after dark and before sunrise, I spoke on phone to the leader of the delegation. She told me that their team has come to serve notice regarding an FIR registered against me in Chandigarh. I insisted that they go by the law and come in the morning," she wrote on X.
