This is an archive article published on October 22, 2020
Kerala plans tougher laws on online abuse
An official release said the Kerala High Court had earlier directed the state police to take steps against hate campaigns and attacks through social media. The time of the coronavirus pandemic has seen a spurt in attacks and hate campaigns on social media.
2 min readThiruvananthapuramUpdated: Oct 22, 2020 07:39 AM IST
An official release last month announcing the Cabinet's recommendation to the Governor regarding the ordinance had said the Kerala High Court had earlier directed the state police to take steps against hate campaigns and attacks through social media.
The Kerala government has decided to amend the Kerala Police Act to check increasing abuse on social media and cybercrime.
The cabinet on Wednesday decided to recommend to the Governor to issue an Ordinance to incorporate a new Section 118(A) into the Act to punish any person who creates or sends any information that is offensive or is intended to offend or threaten another person, through any means of communication, with an imprisonment of five years or a fine of Rs 10,000 or both.
An official release said the Kerala High Court had earlier directed the state police to take steps against hate campaigns and attacks through social media. The time of the coronavirus pandemic has seen a spurt in attacks and hate campaigns on social media.
In 2015, the Supreme Court had struck down Section 66A of The Information Technology Act, which was being used by police to arrest people on charges of posting objectionable content on the Internet. The top court had also nullified Section 118(D) of the Kerala Police Act, ruling it infringed on the freedom of speech.
The cabinet noted that the central government had not so far brought in legislation to replace the revoked sections, which had left the police hamstrung in effectively dealing with social media abuse and cybercrime.
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.
Expertise, Experience, and Authority
Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes:
Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.
Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules.
Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
