218 COVID-19-related cases registered by Maha cops' cyber cell

Mumbai, Apr 16 () The cyber cell of MaharashtraPolice has registered 218 cases in connection withcoronavirus-related fake news, rumours and hate speech onsocial media since lockdown was imposed.

The police also arrested 45 persons while 160suspected culprits have been identified, an official said onThursday.

Preventive action under section 107 of the Code ofCriminal Procedure was initiated against eight persons. Underthis section, authoritie can ask a person to deposit security'for keeping peace' in an area.

Instances of hate speech related to the pandemic wasseen to be rising on social media in the last one week, thepolice official said.

Of the 218 cases registered by cyber cell, 115 caseswere of hate speech, 75 were related to fake news. Remainingcases included those of spreading misinformation, the officialsaid.

The maximum number of such cases were related toposts on WhatsApp (102), followed by Facebook (71). A fewcases were related to TikTok videos or tweets.

Cyber cell issued take-down notices to social mediaplatforms and 32 objectionable posts were removed while theprocess was underway in another 85 cases. DCKRK KRK