CM writes to Shah, seeks laws on ‘provocative’ posts
Times of India | 4 July 2025
Kolkata: Expressing concern over the increase in "provocative social media content", CM Mamata Banerjee wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday, urging a deterrent legislation to address the issue as it posed a "serious challenges to public peace". The CM also flagged an "alarming surge in cybercrimes".
In a two-page letter, she said: "In recent times, it has been observed that incendiary narratives, misleading stories, and fake videos circulating on social media are significantly contributing to the aggravation of criminal tendencies among certain sections of society. Such content not only spreads misinformation but also has the potential to inflame communal sentiments, incite violence, disrupt societal harmony, and lead to crimes against women.
""(B)oth provocative social media posts and cybercrimes disproportionately affect the vulnerable sections of society — women, children, the elderly, and those from economically weaker backgrounds — who are often less equipped to identify, counter, or recover from such harm, " she added.
Bringing up rise in cybercrime, the CM said a large section of the population was being subjected to psychological, financial and social distress.
In her letter to Shah, sent days before the monsoon session of Parliament that begins on July 21, she called for urgent stringent laws in order to act as an "effective deterrent against the creation and dissemination of provocative content and acts perpetrated with criminal intent in cyberspace.
""Many of our people remain unaware of the risks associated with consuming and sharing unverified content. This menace is increasingly spreading throughout the country," Banerjee said. She emphasised the need for sensitisation programmes, digital literacy campaigns and community engagement initiatives "to equip citizens with the tools to critically evaluate online information and to report suspicious activities promptly".
The CM wrote that these should be a priority considering the "critical implications for national security, social cohesion, and the welfare of our citizens". "The legal framework and its enforcement require further strengthening to keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem and the sophisticated methods employed by malicious actors," she said.
Banerjee said the menace of cybercrime was growing in both complexity and impact. "From financial frauds and identity theft to online harassment and defamation, cybercrimes are exacting a severe toll on individuals and institutions alike," she wrote.