Cyber cops to keep strict vigil on incendiary social media posts on politicos

Hyderabad: With the model code of conduct for the Assembly elections in place, social media activists are under the lens of cyber police, who are focusing on those making incendiary posts against political parties, especially the ruling BRS.

The move comes after the Cyberabad police detained youngsters for sharing derogatory comments about the BRS and its leaders.

Cyberabad cybercrime DCP Rithi Raj said: “In the digital age, social media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion. When it is used to spread negative or false information about political figures, it can have serious repercussions. We are committed to taking strict action against those who engage in such negative online activities. We have instructed all social media influencers to be aware of the same.”

She said the police was teaming up with cyber experts and stakeholders to come up with plans that go beyond just assessing the spending on political campaigns.

Cyber experts, however, raised concerns about the effectiveness of the existing guidelines provided by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC). “The current focus, solely on monitoring the amount of money spent during election campaigns, is an inadequate approach. It is a ‘half-baked cake’, lacking proper enforcement,” said Anil Rachamalla, a cyber expert.

“The MCMC guidelines need a major overhaul. They are too focused on financial aspects and fail to address the broader issue of malicious content and misinformation circulating on social media during elections. Without effective measures to combat online negativity, the impact of monitoring campaign spending is limited,” Rachamalla said.