Odisha Police takes down 420 offensive posts from social media during polls

Bhubaneswar: A special cell of Odisha Police has removed at least 420 offensive posts from different social media platforms during the General Elections 2024. The designated monitoring cell was previously constituted acting on the orders of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

According to an official source, the offensive contents were related to ongoing twin polls, which were posted by supporters of different political parties and some other groups on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and ‘X’ (formerly Twitter).

Apart from that, the Social Media Monitoring Cell registered five cases related to violations on social media platforms, the probes of which are underway.

IT professionals have joined hands with Odisha Police as Cyber Volunteers in bolstering these efforts. These actions have been taken against various instances of social media misconduct, violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) for elections, or those violating the law.

These posts were identified as potentially derogatory, abusive, inflammatory, or hateful, highlighting the importance of proactive monitoring in maintaining a peaceful environment. These collaborative actions demonstrate a proactive approach to curb the spread of harmful or inappropriate content across various social media platforms, a press release mentioned.

Worth mentioning, the Cyber Crime Unit of the Crime Branch also actively spreads awareness among the public against cybercrimes and financial frauds through regular posts on its official social media account @cybercopodisha.

These posts are aimed to educate people about the dangers posed by cyber fraudsters, fake news, misinformation, and disinformation. Through valuable insights and practical tips, the cyber cops are empowering individuals to discern credible information from deceptive content.

Crime Branch appeals to citizens to use social media in a decent and appropriate way without harming other individuals and organisations. It is a powerful tool for information gathering as well as for dissemination if used in the right manner.

Cyber cops engaged in cyber patrolling keep a strict watch on deviant handles and legal action would be taken at an appropriate time. Netizens ought to stay away from social media misuse to save themselves as well as others in society from getting on to the wrong side of the law.