Delhi Police is issuing legal notices to social media users for posting abusive and illegal content during recent Jantar Mantar protests. Authorities have identified over 480 handles allegedly linked to Pakistan that were spreading deepfakes and misinformation. The action is being taken under the Information Technology Act to maintain public order and verify the source of digital narratives.
Detailed Coverage
The Delhi Police has launched a formal investigation into social media activity surrounding recent protests at Jantar Mantar, following reports of abusive and illegal content targeting senior officials. As part of this enforcement, authorities are issuing notices to account holders, requiring them to remove material deemed to be in violation of the Information Technology Act.
Investigation into Foreign-Linked Handles
During the monitoring of online discourse, law enforcement agencies identified more than 480 social media accounts reportedly originating from or linked to Pakistan. Officials are investigating these handles for their role in spreading fake narratives, rumors, and manipulated videos during and after the demonstration period. Investigators are currently tracking IP addresses to determine the origin and management of these accounts, noting that some of these handles were previously flagged during other digital security operations.
Combating Deepfakes and Misinformation
A core focus of the police effort is the combatting of AI-generated content and deepfakes. To demonstrate the impact of this misinformation, officials pointed to a recent viral video that falsely claimed the resignation of Delhi Police DCP Sumit Jha in the context of student protests. The police issued a clarification confirming the video was fabricated and provided authentic footage to counter the narrative. The department's Social Media Monitoring Team continues to scan platforms for content that contravenes legal provisions or poses a threat to public order.
This ongoing process involves the systematic identification of digital evidence to support legal action under existing IT regulations. While the investigation remains in progress, the primary objective for the authorities is to curb the dissemination of content that could influence public perception through misinformation. The next steps for the investigation will likely include the forensic analysis of further digital evidence and potential coordination with platform service providers to ensure the removal of verified illegal content.