Government evolves 3 pronged strategy to tackle misuse of internet, social media

 Taking serious note of recent misuse ofinternet and social media, Government has formulated a three-pronged strategy including setting up of a cyber surveillance agency which can forewarn about any such malicious intent. 

At a recent meeting chaired by National Security Advisor Shivshanker Menon, it was also decided to frame guidelines for telecom operators to prevent panic reaction as seen in recent weeks when Internet andsocial media was used to spread rumours, particularly on clashes in Assam, according to the minutes of the meeting. 
The meeting, which was also attended by senior officials from Home Ministry, PMO, intelligence agencies and from National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), took stock of the validity, impact and effectiveness of the government action to block certain content on the internet and social media, it said. 

It was felt that in future, an "appropriate regime should be put in place to address similar situation in a smart, timely and consistent manner", it said. 

During the meeting, it was decided to have an "effective monitoring system, comprising duly tasked and technologically empowered cyber monitoring and surveillance agencies which can report build up in time and forewarn government of any malicious use of the internet and social media." 

It was also decided to prepare a legal regime approved by the government, which fills the existing gaps in theInformation Technology Act for dealing with such situation, including deterring malicious use of the internet and social media.