Lok Sabha Question No. 2591 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Stalking of Women on Social Media
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Dr. Byreddy Shabari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2591 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2024

## STALKING OF WOMEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA

## 2591.  DR. BYREDDY SHABARI:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any steps are being taken by the Government to prevent circulation of fake news across the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Digital Data Protection Act has completely enforced across the country and if so, the steps taken by the Government to protect privacy of social media users; and
- (c) whether there is a rising trend of online stalking of women on social media platforms and  if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  protect  women's  dignity  on  social media platforms?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a): The Government takes all possible actions to control the spread of fake and misleading information  which  has  potential  to  adversely  affect  the  society  at  large.  In  this  regard,  the Government  has  statutory  and  institutional  mechanisms  in  place  to  address  fake  news  on various media platforms.

For Print Media, the newspapers have to adhere to 'Norms of Journalistic Conduct' brought out  by  Press  Council  of  India  (PCI)  which,  inter  alia,  restrains  publication  of  fake/ defamatory/ misleading news. The Council holds inquiry into alleged violations of Norms, as per  section  14  of  the  Act,  and  may  warn,  admonish  or  censure  the  newspaper,  editors, journalists, etc. as the case may be.

Content on private satellite TV channels is required to adhere to the Programme Code under the  Cable  Television  Networks  (Regulation)  Act,  1995,  which,  inter  alia,  provides  that  no content  which  contains  anything  obscene,  defamatory,  deliberate,  false  and  suggestive innuendos  and  half-truths  is  broadcast  on  private  satellite  TV  channels.  Cable  Television Network (Amendment) Rules 2021, provides for a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism to  look  into  the  complaints  relating  to  the  violation  of  the  Code  by  the  TV  channels. Appropriate action is taken where violation of Programme Code is found. Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021(IT Rules,

For the content of publishers and news and current affairs on digital media, the Information 2021) prescribes a Code of Ethics which, inter-alia, requires them to adhere to the Norms of Journalistic Conduct and Programme Code.

A  Fact  Check  Unit  (FCU)  has  been  set  up  under  Press  Information  Bureau,  Ministry  of Information and Broadcasting in November, 2019 to check fake news relating to the Central Government. After verifying the authenticity of news from authorised sources in Ministries/ Departments in the Government of India, FCU posts correct information on its social media platforms.

(b): The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 ('DPDP Act') has been notified on 11th August,  2023  to  provide  for  the  processing  of  digital  personal  data  in  a  manner  that recognises both the right of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process such personal data for lawful purposes.

(c): Incidents of misuse of social media to commit cyber crimes including online abuse and stalking  of  women  are  reported  under  Section  78  of  the  Bharatiya  Nyaya  Sanhita,  2023. 'Police' and 'Public Order'  are State subjects under the Seventh  Schedule  to the Constitution of India. The State Governments/ Union Territories deal with reported cases of misuse  of  social  media  to  commit  cyber  crimes.  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  is  also implementing  a  scheme  namely  'Cyber  Crime  Prevention  against  Women  and  Children (CCPWC)' under which an online cybercrime reporting portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) has been launched in September, 2018 to enable public to report complaints pertaining to Child Pornography/Child  Sexual  Abuse  Material,  rape/gang-rape  imagery  or  sexually  explicit content. The Portal facilitates the States/UTs to view complaints of cyber crime online and take appropriate action.

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