LUCKNOW: Group administrators on social media—including Facebook and WhatsApp—would be held accountable and booked under stringent laws—including the National Security Act—if an outrageous post is uploaded by a member.The administrators would now also have to remove or report to the police any ‘disturbing’ post. The decision was taken by the Lucknow SSP to curb spreading of false news, causing law and order problems. The police have also started a roundthe-clock helpline for people to report offensive posts.Not only groups but even individuals posting defamatory messages, photographs, videos against a religion or country or an offensive post against an individual, party, group or organisation on Facebook, WhatsApp or Twitter can be booked. Anyone sharing or forwarding the same would also be booked under stringent laws like the NSA and section 66A of the information technology Act.SSP Kalanidhi Naithani said there were numerous groups on WhatsApp and Facebook spreading fake news . As a result, it was important to keep a check on them. “If we take some steps then it can stop spreading of fake information on social media and check incidents of communal clashes,” he said.Hence, it would now be the responsibility of group administrators to either remove members posting offensive posts or report about them to the police, in cases of both Facebook and WhatsApp, the SSP said.He also added that a team of police personnel from the cybercell would keep a watch on outrageous posts on Facebook and Twitter round-theclock and keep in touch with him. All ASPs and SPs in the district have been asked to maintain a vigil . They can take assistance from surveillance cell or cybercell.

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