Social media vigil intensified, 360 FIRs lodged so far

LUCKNOW: The UP police have registered nearly 360 FIRs in less than a month’s time against those posting unverified, objectionable comments on social media. In a fresh warning, they have asked people to desist from rumour mongering on all instant messaging platforms.

The FIRs were registered for posts between March 16 to April 10 and Mohd Imran the superintendent of police (SP) social media monitoring cell said maximum 198 FIRs were registered for communally provocative posts that could lead to law and order issue.

More than 250 police personnel are deployed exclusively to keep an eye on social media platforms. “When they see any inflammatory posts or comment, a direct message is sent to the user to remove the post. If the user does not remove them and continues posting unverified remarks the accused could be booked,” Imran said.

Unverified posts are blocked and the account from which they are posted is suspended. We also inform the district police about the need to take action against such people,” he said.

After communally sensitive posts, 91 FIRs were registered for posts that basically were rumour mongering. “We noticed a trend that people often post false information related to COVID-19 and about government decisions which could trigger panic,” Imran said. Abusive comments also attracted attention with 71 FIRs being registered.

“This includes posts that are noticed by our social media monitoring cell as well as those reported by social media users,” he said.

“UP police’s twitter handle received as many as 2843 tweets related to lockdown violations and emergencies. Of these 180 tweets were related to medical emergency or requirement of medicines following which necessary action was initiated and people were provided immediate help. Similarly, 309 tweets were related to food requirements following which district authorities were approached and asked to deliver food to the needy,” he stated.

“Maximum tweets related to complaint about lockdown violation, of several people gathering at one place, or crowd at market places or people loitering around in the localities. He said all these complaints were transferred to the local authorities to ensure enforcement of proper lockdown and necessary action,” he said.

MORE THAN 250 POLICE PERSONNEL ARE DEPLOYED EXCLUSIVELY TO KEEP AN EYE ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.