Manipur Police activates Social Media Cells in all districts to monitor unlawful content

Manipur Police has issued an order, on July 15, to set up 'social media cells' in all districts to monitor 'unlawful content' on social media platforms. According to circular released by department, social media posts that pose "detrimental effects on law and order" shall be considered improper. Manipur Police Department instructed all Superintendents of Police (SP), ditional DGP Manipur (Intelligence) to "continuously monitor all posts/uplos/comments posted in all dialects of Manipur."

According to notice, members have to bring to notice of ditional DGP all "unlawful contents, communal posts, etc." disseminated across social media. Manipur Social Media Cells were activated in 2020, following an order from District General of Police (DGP).

DGP activates Social Media Cells following arrest of activist and journalist

“For effective monitoring of social media platforms and for taking prompt legal action, all district SPs should establish social media monitoring cells in ir respective units immediately,” order dated July 15 re.

move comes at heels of arrest of Imphal-based political activist Leichombam Erendro and journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem under National Security Act (NSA) in May this year. y were detained over a critical remark about cow dung being used for COVID-19, on Facebook, following death of former Bharatiya Janata Party Chief and retired professor Saikhom Tikendra Singh. Even though Erendro has been released on bail as allowed by Supreme Court, Wangkhem continues to serve in prison.

Social Media Cell circular has requested technical help from Cyber Crime Police station to enable smoor functions in locating unlawful and unsocial content. SPs shall present a fortnightly record of ir findings and actions on such posts to GP, who is said to he cell. reports shall be mandatory on 3rd and 18th of every month, with effect from 2nd fortnight of July.

Need for social media cells

SPs have been asked to take "prompt legal action" as and when required "immediately" in ir respective districts. Although no clear motive has been specified on latest activation of monitoring cells, an anonymous senior police officer informed that Manipur would only benefit from surveillance, which can prevent people from creating "unwanted tension" with unsocial content on social media. Meanwhile, Manipur AGDP (Intelligence) has remained unavailable for comment.

(Input from several agencies)