Day 53 – Q 4.There is s thin line between freedom of expression and irresponsible civic behaviour. Do you think regulations are required to be introduced to make sure this thin line is abided by the social media users? What are the challenges in regulating the social media? Explain.

4. There is s thin line between freedom of expression and irresponsible civic behaviour. Do you think regulations are required to be introduced to make sure this thin line is abided by the social media users? What are the challenges in regulating the social media? Explain.  

अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता और गैर-जिम्मेदार नागरिक व्यवहार के बीच एक पतली रेखा है। क्या आपको लगता है कि सोशल मीडिया उपयोगकर्ताओं द्वारा इस पतली रेखा का पालन सुनिश्चित करने के लिए विनियमों की आवश्यकता है? सोशल मीडिया को विनियमित करने में क्या चुनौतियां हैं?

Introduction:

Social Media has become a vital communications tool through which individuals can exercise their right of freedom of expression and exchange information and ideas. 

Body

Freedom of expression:

• Raising voice: A growing movement of people around the world has been witnessed who are advocating for change, justice, equality, accountability of the powerful and respect for human rights (e.g. Arab Spring Revolution) wherein the Internet and Social Media has played a key role.
• Hashtag activism: The term can also be used to refer to the act of showing support for a cause through a like, share, etc. on any social media platform, such as Facebook or Twitter. Example: metoo, saveearth, 

Irresponsible civic behaviour:

• Defamation: The most affected people through social media are politicians and celebrities.  People got another medium to express their anger and to defame them through tweeting or by other social networking sites.
• False and unreliable information: People make fake email accounts of celebrities and spread untrue stories about them.
• Sexual predators: For example, the most common scenario when a man of 42 years make an email account using fake name and picture of 16 years old boy, communicate to others and ask them to meet in person.
• Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is the act of bullying by harming or harassing using electronic technology. It adds users to the bullies account and begins to bully in the way of harassing the user through teasing, derogatory remarks, etc.
• Fraud: for example, person with the attractive profile picture who just friended you, and suddenly needs money — is probably some cybercriminal looking for easy cash.
• Religious indoctrination: viral videos, influence on youth, radicalization of youths are some of the threats.  

Regulations are required:

• Section 66A of the Information Technology Act: Punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service. It is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine.
• Section 69 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000: It has the power to impose reasonable restrictions on this right and intercept, decrypt or monitor Internet traffic or electronic data whenever there is a threat to national security, national integrity, and security of the state.
• e-Surveillance Projects: National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), Central Monitoring System (CMS), Internet Spy System Network and Traffic Analysis System (NETRA) of India, National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIPC) of India, National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) of India, Tri Service Cyber Command for Armed Forces of India, Cyber Attacks Crisis Management Plan Of India.
• State Computer Response teams: Establishment of the State CERT to operate in conjunction ICERT and coordinate with NCIIPC

Challenges in regulating the social media:

• Targeted phishing attacks: Such attacks are carried out to steal money or confidential information, as was the case with the Hydraq attacks in early 2010 that compromised critical information of several multi-national companies.
• Activities across borders: difficult to trace and take actions related to international crimes.
• Criminal Activity and Money laundering: Organised criminals are now using social media to recruit some public individuals to act as unsuspecting money launderers of their money they got from their dirty works like drug smuggling, people trafficking and fraud.
• Policy framework: Acts are not stringent and demarcated to take action against the fraud.

Conclusion

It is important to keep the pace with the rapidly changing society. Even today the society is not prepared to bear the consequences of the misuse of social media which will result in the unacceptable and unfamiliar social behaviour.