Police use new software to monitor fake news, malicious remarks

SHILLONG: The cyber crime wing of the Meghalaya police is using new software to monitor fake news and inflammatory comments on social media round the clock.
The state police have taken help from various central government agencies and departments as well as from a renowned technological institute in New Delhi to augment the capabilities of the cyber crime cell.
“Social media platforms like Google, Facebook and others have also positively responded to the request of the cyber crime wing to give information about persons who have been putting inciting materials on social media and proper legal instruments are being used to obtain such information,” police said in a statement on Monday.
Police have arrested two persons and registered as many as 11 cases in connection with the misuse of social media.
The statement said besides Manbhalang Nongspung, who was arrested recently, another person identified as Fuller Strong Kharsyiemlieh was also arrested and cases registered.
“Till date, 11 cases have been registered for offensive, inflammatory and derogatory remarks on social media and a number of persons have been questioned and their mobile phones have been seized, which gave evidence about the inciting materials which they had posted or forwarded and due legal action is being taken against them,” police said.
According to police, the role of social media with respect to the disturbances in Shillong last month had drawn the attention of all the members of the society and the cyber crime wing had started legal action as per provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 and the Indian Penal Code in various cases.
The police again appealed to all citizens to cooperate with it and the cyber crime wing in particular so that no unscrupulous elements can take advantage and create and spread fake news.
Social media users have been advised not to post or propagate any unsubstantiated news or reports and similarly administrators of social media groups were also asked to ensure that no offensive materials are posted by any members of the group which can invite legal action.