GoM DISCUSSES STEPS TO CHECK LYNCHINGS

NEW DELHI: A Union home minister Rajnath Singh-led group of ministers (GoM) formed to suggest measures to check lynching incidents met for the first time on Wednesday for almost 40 minutes. The group discussed the ways to hold accountable the social media platforms for “malicious content”, which have been blamed for triggering the incidents.

The meeting was convened after the GoM received recommendations from a home secretary Rajiv Gauba-led committee of secretaries regarding a response to check growing mobviolence in the country.

The secretaries’ panel had identified the unchecked malicious content on social media platforms targeting children, women and minorities as the major problem.

It recommended that social media platforms should be held accountable for the malicious content. The committee also suggested that Indian security agencies need to increase their presence in the cyberspace to check such content.

“The committee met for the first time and if required may hold more meetings,” said a home ministry official.

Following its deliberations, the GoM will submit its recommendations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a final call on the issue.

The secretaries’ panel has recommended the strengthening of the existing legal framework to check incidents of mob violence instigated by the content available and circulated through the social media.

The GoM and the secretaries’ panel were set up after nearly 40 people were lynched in nine states.

The Supreme Court had in July asked Parliament to enact a law to check lynchings.

Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Thawar Chand Gehlot are other members of the GoM.