While reactions have been varied on the Centre's threat to block incendiary hate-speech content on social networking sites, city police affirm that such websites “are being misused” to spread content having the potential to create trouble.
They have come across many instances of hate messages, statements hurting religious sentiments and objectionable content inciting violence being put on social websites. More than the inflammatory content, rumours and false reports being circulated via such sites during communal incidents are turning out to be dangerous.
Police aver that activists of outlawed organisation such as Laskhar-e-Taiba could be using emails and social websites for internal communication. Some of them even host websites under fake names as cover. “So far there is little evidence to suggest that these outfits have been successful in instigating violence or triggering trouble only through the internet,” a police officer said.
Circulating false reports and rumours when violent incidents are reported escalates tension.Spreading of false incendiary information through social networking sites is the newest challenge that the police faces.
No effective counter
Earlier, when rumours were being spread by word of mouth, the police would effectively counter them using print and electronic media.
With the onset of mobile phones, short message service (SMS) is used to spread rumours.
This too was contained by instructing service providers to ban bulk messaging during troubled times.
But, with no control over the internet, the police can only watch helplessly while trouble-makers use various social networking websites to propagate baseless reports and rumours.
Recent assaults
This was especially noticed during the recent series of assaults by activists of a right wing organisation on youngsters belonging to a minority community, the subsequent arrests, allegations and the counter-allegations that followed.
“Despite being aware that false information was being spread, we could do little because tracking, arresting and prosecuting persons behind such activities requires a lot of technical expertise and additional infrastructure,” an investigator pointed out.
