Rattled by fake videos in poll season, city cops seek X’s help
Times of India | 5 May 2024
Kolkata: City cops, faced with multiple fake and hate videos in the recent past, has requested social media platform X to ensure that the nodal officers, with whom senior cops are coordinating and are appointed on behalf of the company, act on their reports quickly. Ever since the election season has set in, cops registered as many as 10 FIRs in this regard.
According to police sources, they have found at least two instances when videos from Sambalpur and Rajasthan were passed as that taking place in Kolkata.
“As the probe progressed, we found that there were verified accounts belonging to those from the right wing that were spreading the maximum hate with fake videos. When we sent them legal notices under CrPC 149 on the X platform, we found that those who re-tweeted had removed them. But the content creators did not pay any heed to the notices. It is then that we requested X to remove them. So far, over two dozen such requests for removal of posts and videos have been made,” said an officer.
Cops also took to the X platform, using its own DCP Cyber Kolkata Police handle, to state that it was necessary to recheck what is being reposted on social media. “The misleading video is being circulated on social media claiming it to be from West Bengal. However, the incident happened in Sambalpur in 2023. Strict legal action is being taken against such profiles,” stated one such message from cops.
Cops said they were keeping the language of the notice simple for everyone to comprehend. “You are directed to immediately disclose your identity including name and residence. If the information sought is not revealed, you shall be liable for legal action under 42 CrPC. Cyber PS, Lalbazar,” the tweets said.
The official legal notice added: “It has been observed that you are using social media post for posting malicious and inciting content. Cyber police station hereby is issuing notice against you under CrPc 149 for posting such malicious content on social media that can adversely affect the law and order situation.” The cops also shared the respective URL. The notice ended asking the user to delete the offensive post immediately.
The city’s cyber cell and STF have also begun demarcating each fake or inciting video — from those circulating only on WhatsApp to those being shared across social media platforms. “One video is making its way to various types of social media. We are trying to identify at the base and then delete these videos before they can cause further damage,” claimed a senior officer at Lalbazar.