‘Social media trolls can be booked for online stalking’
NEW DELHI: After Gurmehar Kaur was compelled to leave Delhi because she was subjected to ‘rape threats’ on social media for holding a campaign against ABVP, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) announced that as per the provisions of ‘the online antitrolling cell’, a person can be booked for ‘online stalking’ in case of repeated trolling through different accounts.
“Though the victims of social media trolling rarely raise complaints with us, the incidents are on a hike on all social media platforms,” said a senior officer in the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD).
The ministry launched their cell in July 2015 after receiving several complaints from women who were abused on social media. But, until December the number of complaints received was only 60. “The number of complaints is less in comparison to cases of trolling on social media but we cannot take Suo-moto action. We need a written complaint,” added the officer.
According to WCD, out of the complaints lodged, 27 complaints were related to Facebook and 17 to Twitter. “The actionable complaints were forwarded to concerned agencies which immediately disable the accounts. Also, when the accused opens another account for trolling the victim again, then the case is registered under ‘online stalking’,” said the officer. But, the ministry does not lodge any police complaint after the cases are solved by the social media site. “We do not entertain victims who have already raised complaints with the cops or any other medium,” the officer added.
According to a woman officer from WCD, if the concerned social media platform or police fail to initiate action within 7 days, the ministry intervenes and summons the action taken the report. “Recently, all the officers had a meeting with Twitter team India to examine the issue related to abuse, harassment and hateful conduct. We encourage people to send us their grievances on our email complaint-mwcd@gov.in,” she said. The ministry has also launched campaign #IAMTROLLED to not only create awareness but also encourage women to lodge complaints.