Bihar in recent development said that it will consider offensive and defamatory social media posts an act of cybercrime. This comes after the chief minister of Bihar faced so much of criticism over social media and following this criticism for so long he has now ordered the nodal point for cybercrime, the police’s Economic Offenses Wing to report and take actions against those who commit them.
However, Bihar has been one of those states that has rarely taken any actions against offensive and defamatory activity over internet. This new development was sent to all the state secretaries via a letter written by the chief of Economic Offenses Wing, IG Nayyar Hasnain Khan asking for a change.
“It has come to light that certain persons and organisations have been making defamatory and offensive comments on social media against the government, respected ministers, parliamentarians, legislators, and government officials,” the chief wrote in the letter.
Khan further wrote, “This is against prescribed law and comes under the category of cybercrime”.
The chief also requested all the officials to inform such acts of cybercrime to the Economic Offenses Wing so that actions can be taken against those who committing them and to get rid of such cases.
Although, the chief minister Nitish Kumar speaks about the instances of disinformation against his government in all his public speeches and also urges his supporters not to believe such posts but it is the first time when his government has taken an action.