Social Media Abuse: Deputy CM to Open Complaint Cell
He assured victims of online harassment that the government would get all protection.
Vijayawada:The state government would set up a dedicated grievance cell in the deputy chief minister's office to receive complaints related to social media abuse.
Announcing this on Wednesday, Deputy CM K. Pawan Kalyan said such complaints must be backed by screenshots, links and videos. He warned that offenders would face stringent legal action.
Kalyan said every genuine complaint would be scrutinised and forwarded to the competent authority to ensure action under the law. He assured victims of online harassment that the government would get all protection.
Stressing that freedom of speech is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution, he said the government fully respected criticism, dissent, satire and fair comments. “However, that right is subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2). The establishment would not protect abusive language, criminal intimidation, defamatory allegations, cyber harassment, targeting of women, insults to religious beliefs, spread of misinformation or incitement to violence.
The Deputy CM said stringent action would be initiated under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the Information Technology Act and other applicable laws. The government, he said, would also enact a new law, if required, while fully safeguarding constitutional freedoms.
