Guj to have dedicated police officers to monitor social media

To prevent incidents such as lynching due to viral rumours, the Gujarat government today decided to assign the specific task of monitoring social media for fake news and messages to certain police officers.

It also decided to set up four Cyber Police Stations in the state.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of senior IPS officials, held by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani to review the law and order situation in the state.

Minister State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja told reporters that officials were instructed to focus on misuse of social media platforms so as to prevent incidents of lynching and communal clashes or tension.

Some police officials would be designated specially for keeping a tab on rumours and fake news on social media, he said.

The government has also decided to install Global Positioning System (GPS) in all police vehicles, such as PCR vans, prisoner transfer vehicles, patrolling vehicles and vehicles used by police stations, for real-time monitoring of their movements, said Jadeja.

Newly-inducted policemen are being given training about cyber crimes, the minister said. Four Cyber Police Stations would be set up across the state, he added.