Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee. File | Photo Credit: Neither
The Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee wrote to the Minister of the Union Amit Shah, who expressed “deep concern” to increase provocative content on social media platforms and an alarming increase in cases of computer crime throughout the country. She asked the Union’s government to bring strict legislative and political interventions to reduce the growing “threat” and help protect vulnerable people.
In her letter of 3 July, Mrs Banerjee warned that incendiary stories, false videos, and misleading stories that are online, “significantly contribute to deterioration of criminal tendencies between certain parts of society”.
“Such content not only spreads misinformation, but also has the potential to develop communal sentiments, stimulate violence, disrupt social harmony and indulge in crime against women,” she wrote in her letter to the Minister of the House.
CM said that the wide range of social media and digital platforms can easily escalate situations. This can cause serious damage to vulnerable and marginalized people, such as older people, women, children and economically weaker sections and cause psychological, financial and social problems.
She also said that increased sophistication of these computer crimes was the cause of alarm from financial fraud, theft of identity to online harassment and defamation. The Supremo Party of the Trinamool Party claimed that the current laws in India were not enough to handle the rapidly developing nature of digital crimes committed in the country.
“Therefore, there is an urgent need for strict legislative provisions that may act as an effective discharge against the creation and distribution of provocative content and are committed with criminal intention in cyberspace,” Mrs. Banerjee added.
In addition to harder laws of CM, “sensitization programs, digital literacy campaigns and community involvement initiatives” so that the country’s citizens realize online risks and understand the severity of digital fraud and unverified information.
She called on the Minister of the Interior to consider this matter a priority consideration because it can have a greater impact on national and personal security.
This comes when Calcutta, like many other places in India, has seen a increase in cases of cyber fraud and monetary losses, including older people.
Published – 4 July 2025 06:00
