KP identifies 32 Pak, Bangla accounts spreading fake news
Times of India | 21 August 2024
Kolkata: Online account-holders from Pakistan and Bangladesh are among those who have been summoned by Kolkata Police for spreading fake information on the rape-and-murder of the RG Kar PGT doctor. Till Tuesday evening, police sent summons to 310 people, social media handle owners and entities. Besides, police traced 32 online accounts to Pakistan and Bangladesh spreading fake news.Several of these online posts called for “action in Bengal similar to that in Bangladesh”.
Police said multiple fake accounts of reputable news outlets were being created to spread misinformation. “We have received complaints from media houses and a number of forwards from citizens. The VoIP addresses are being traced,” said an officer. “As the protests against the RG Kar rape-and-murder intensified, so did the spread of misinformation on social media, leading to confusion. The old style of passing off old incidents as the current one has been discarded. Instead, AI is being used to change original videos. Even words are put in the mouth of influencers.” According to an officer from the Kolkata Police’s cyber division, even hashtags, like ‘#RGKar’, ‘#Justice’, ‘#Women’, and ‘#Rape’ were used to ensure rapid spread these fake posts.
Additionally, 25 accounts from UP, MP and Rajasthan have been identified and the owners summoned. “Many kept posting fake news even after warning. We plan raids across north Kolkata,” said an officer.
Social media rumours and misinformation were spreading like fire, said an officer. Claims like “150 gm of semen was found on the victim’s body” and details about the number and type of injuries on the doctor’s body have been circulating on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. There are also rumours of multiple people being involved, though neither police nor CBI has confirmed them. To curb these rumours, the social media monitoring cell and cyber cell at Lalbazar are taking strict measures. Initially, 250 profiles were identified and police contacted them. As the probe progressed, Lalbazar detected a hint of “foreign involvement” in spreading these rumours.