Modi government plans to track social media to promote 'nationalism'
In a bid to boost 'nationalism,' the Narendra Modi-led Center is hiring a team to analyze social media and neutralize "media blitzkriegs by India's adversaries." In a tender, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry wrote they are seeking 20 professionals to manage a 'New Media Command Room'. The team would identify 'fake posts' and disseminate news having 'positive slant for India'.
Government aims to track personal accounts, neutralize 'fake news'
As a part of the plan, the government wishes to track Twitter trends and hashtags. It also aims to monitor personal accounts and archive conversations, as well as neutralize 'fake news' by adversaries. "How could the public perception be moulded in positive manner for the country, how could nationalistic feelings be inculcated in the masses," the tender reads.
Narendra Modi vs Fake news: What has been done
This proposed plan can be seen as another attempt by Modi government to curb 'fake news'. Earlier this year, Smriti Irani (the then I&B Minister) released strict guidelines under which a journalists' accreditation would be cancelled if the news reported by them turned out to be fake. Since the classification of 'fake news' was vague, the move drew criticism and later, it was retracted.
The plan reiterates the Modi government's obsession with 'nationalism'
This government's obsession with nationalism is another concern, mostly because NDA's definition of 'patriotism' contrasts that of many. The government has grabbed headlines for various such actions. In 2016, PM Modi quietly formed a team of scholars to rewrite history (literally), and prove Hindus were descendants of India's first inhabitants. During Karnataka campaigning too, Modi accused Congress of "insulting heroes" as it questioned surgical-strikes.
By approving data mining, Center raises concerns on privacy
By giving a green light to data mining in the tender, the Center has raised concerns. Only recently the Cambridge Analytica scandal became a prominent part of Indian political discourse; parties were allegedly using the private firm for targeted advertisements to garner votes. Incidents of Aadhaar leaks, which made sensitive information of citizens publicly accessible, further proves the government's lackadaisical attitude towards privacy.
Notably, social-media activity has landed people in jail
In India, where over 240 million people use Facebook, citizens have been jailed for speaking up against the government. In 2017, at least seven people were put behind bars in UP for criticizing CM Yogi Adityanath on social media. The same year, a Tamil Nadu engineer was arrested for abusing PM Modi on Facebook messages. Considering history, the government's new plan definitely raises questions.
