Govt shuts off several social media handles circulating fake, inciting content

Minister of State for IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the government has blocked several social media handles that were circulating “fake and inciting” content on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

Owners of these accounts are being identified for action under the law, he added.

Amid the massive crackdown on hateful posts, sources said that the offensive content pertained to 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 & Trusted Internet at @GoI_MeitY at work. Handles that tried to push fake/inciting content on twitter, youtube, fb, insta have been blocked,” Chandrasekhar tweeted.

The minister said owners of such accounts are being identified for action under the law, and asserted that platforms will be reviewed on their due diligence.

Sources said the government had identified 73 Twitter handles, 4 pieces of YouTube content, and 1 Instagram game. Accordingly, 73 Twitter handles have been suspended, 4 YouTube content and the particular Instagram game have been removed.

The Delhi Police had registered a case after coming across a morphed video of a cabinet committee meeting wherein some persons tried to show that the meeting was against the Sikh community.