Dhule lynching: Maharashtra government mulls portal to verify viral forwards

Close on the heels of the Dhule lynching following rumours in social media, the Maharashtra government is mulling to put in place a verification system. The government is exploring the option of creating a website to filter messages and take action against rumour mongers.

Besides, the state government proposes to seek the help of technical experts and information technology wizards to make provisions of the Information Technology Act more stringent.

A state home department official told DNA: "The idea of the establishment of a verification system by creating a website is at a nascent state. It can be on the lines of snopes.com."

The site is an online fact-checking website and is termed a well-regarded source for sorting out myths and rumors on the internet, he said.

The nature of the verification system website and technical details will be worked out after consulting the law and judiciary department and experts as it involves the crucial issue of freedom of expression, the official said.

Minister of state for home Deepak Kesarkar, who visited the lynching spot in Dhule where five people were beaten to death on suspicion of being child-lifters, said the police are applying provisions of Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act to deal cases pertaining to rumours spread through social media and thereby create social disharmony.

"After a riot broke out in Aurangabad in May, the police swiftly took action under both the Indian Penal Code and the Information technology Act. The law and judiciary department will be consulted on how to filter rumours and content on social media,'' said the minister.

Mumbai joint commissioner of police Deven Bharti said that the city police take action against those who spread rumours using Twitter. Citizens have been told not to blindly forward such messages without checking their authenticity.

Mumbai's former police commissioner MN Singh suspected that the incidents of lynching recently reported in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are deliberate attempts of mischief and attempts to disturb law and order through use of social media. ''However, being highly technical matter, the police will have to examine with the help of experts how to filter such content. The police will have to become proactive and examine groups involved in rumour mongering and those who are susceptible. Besides, the police need to rope in the state department of social welfare and non-government organisations to raise awareness."

National Security Guard's former director general RD Tyagi said that being a highly complicated issue, the government and the police, in particular, will have to weigh the option of putting in place a verification system to filter social media content.