Bhubaneswar: Abusive posts on social media may soon invite stringent legal action, state law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan warned on Wednesday as he said that the govt is planning to introduce a law in this regard.Underlining the state govt’s intent to curb the growing misuse of digital platforms, Harichandan, while addressing media persons here, said, “There are increasing instances of offensive and defamatory content on social media platforms and the govt has taken serious note of it. People across age groups are knowingly or unknowingly consuming such content,” he noted.The minister’s statement comes following a suggestion by the State Law Commission which on Tuesday proposed a set of measures aimed at regulating and discouraging the use of abusive language online. Among the key recommendations is a proposed legislation, titled the Prevention of Hate Speech and Hate Crime Act, which will address offensive content on social media and put restrictions on the use of abusive language on such platforms.At present, Odisha relies on the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, while dealing with unlawful and harmful content online and in ensuring accountability of intermediaries, including social media platforms.“Despite existing legal frameworks, social media platforms are becoming increasingly abusive and toxic. Since the punishment is not stringent, those making abusive posts often manage to evade the legal net easily. The proposed legislation is aimed at addressing this,” Harichandan added.“Freedom of expression does not extend to derogatory or abusive language that harms individuals or disrupts social order,” Justice Biswanath Rath, the commission’s chairman, said, adding, “The proposed law will cover not only social media platforms but also public spaces where instances of hate speech have become common.”Harichandan also stressed the importance of responsible digital behaviour, urging citizens to exercise restraint and verify information before sharing it online. “Social media is a powerful tool but it must be used responsibly. Misuse can have serious legal consequences,” he said.Last Oct, a man in Sambalpur was arrested for allegedly posting videos containing obscene and abusive language against women on a social networking site. Police had said that the content in his social media account was sexually explicit and offensive with potential to corrupt the minds of children.In Sept 2024, the state govt had to impose an internet shutdown in Bhadrak town following violent communal clashes linked to social media posts. Members of a particular community had protested the inflammatory remarks about their religious head on social media, leading to clashes.
