Naidu Orders Task Force to Tackle Social Media Abuse

Amaravati: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed police officials to constitute a dedicated task force to act against defamatory and objectionable content on social media platforms.

The Chief Minister issued the instructions during a post-Cabinet meeting discussion with ministers on recent developments. He asked officials to consider bringing in additional manpower, if required, and to appoint special public prosecutors to avoid legal hurdles in taking action.

The issue of online defamation was discussed at length, with the Director General of Police and other officials making a presentation on the spread of objectionable content targeting the government and political leaders. Ministers expressed concern over videos circulating on social media that allegedly insult leaders and spread misinformation.

While stressing the need to respect freedom of expression, the Chief Minister made it clear that defamatory, false and distorted content should not be tolerated. He directed the police machinery to intensify monitoring of social media from Friday and take prompt action wherever necessary.

Naidu also advised ministers not to react to provocations, alleging that opposition leaders were attempting to divert attention from development and welfare initiatives by triggering controversies. He cautioned that responding impulsively could escalate tensions.

The Chief Minister also raised concerns over the spread of caste-related content and fake news on social media, alleging attempts to create unrest for political gains. He called for strict measures to curb such activities.

Meanwhile, officials noted that emerging features such as username-based identification on messaging platforms could further complicate monitoring efforts.

The Chief Minister also asked in-charge ministers to focus on district-level issues, including revenue-related matters, and ensure closer monitoring of developments in their respective districts.