BHOPAL: The home department on Wednesday issued orders empowering the secretary (home) to issue notices to social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other intermediary companies under Section 79 (3) (B) of the IT Act to withdraw/delete all “illegal” posts immediately.
Additional chief secretary (home) Rajesh Rajora, who issued the orders, said that it was done in consultation with the department of law and science & technology.
“The secretary (home), on receipt of information in a proper format about any such posts will have the power to issue notice to Facebook/Twitter/Instagram or any intermediary asking for withdrawal/deletion of the said posts”, Rajora said.
The illegal posts will include materials related to sexual abuse of children (Sections 292, 293), promoting terror activities (Sections 12, 16, 22 of the UAPA), illegal sale of arms (Section 7 of the Arms Act), promoting violence (Section 505 of the IPC), crimes related to untouchability (Section 3 of Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST Act), cyber crimes (Sections 354 (c), 364 (d) and 507 of the IPC), promoting suicide (Section 306 and 309 of the IPC), spreading rumours (Section 505 of the IPC), wrong representation of the Indian map, child marriage, financial bungling, atrocities against animals, misleading propagandas on drugs and online sale of crackers.
If any information on the topics given above are received in the format that has been decided for the purpose, the secretary (home) will be authorised to issue notices to intermediary companies.
