NHRC flags concerns over social media misuse to tarnish image

New Delhi, February 17

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has flagged concerns on alleged misuse of social media platform with impunity to tarnish the image of the country and individuals on the pretext of freedom of speech and expression. Justice (retd) Arun Mishra, NHRC Chairperson, cautioned against the misuse of social media platforms with tendentious criticism of the country.

“India is a vibrant democracy where everyone has the freedom of speech, but cautioned against the sponsored bogey of unfounded criticism against the institutions of the country on social media platforms,” Justice Mishra said while addressing a function.

The pitching in by the commission against alleged misuse of social media platforms comes amid growing concern in the matters, and a snowballing debate on constitutive ingredients of right to freedom of speech and expression provided under Article 19(1) of the Constitution.

Wide-ranging allegation is that that vested interests launch a selective campaign against law enforcement and Army personnel for their operations to shield culprits.

The Union government has also been under the cross-hairs of human rights activists for its alleged intolerance to freedom and liberty of its critics. Mishra said that filtering of messages on social media to ensure so as not not used to defame others may not be termed as interference with the right to freedom of speech.

He said that many a time, cyberspace is being misused to tarnish the image of the individuals as well as the nations. “ People sitting in Constitutional positions may not be able to refute such a bogey of unfounded criticism amounting to defamation on social media platforms,” Mishra said.