‘Urgent need for stringent legislation’: Mamata Banerjee writes to Amit Shah over rise in cyber crime, provocative content online

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the rising cases of cybercrime and the impact of provocative social media content, calling for stringent legislation and policy interventions.
"There is an urgent need for stringent legislative provisions that can act as an effective deterrent against the creation and dissemination of provocative content and acts perpetrated with criminal intent in cyberspace," reads the letter written by Banerjee to Shah dated July 3.
In the two-page letter shared by ANI on X, she wrote, “In recent times, it has been observed that incendiary narratives, misleading stories and fake videos circulating on social media are contributing significantly to the aggravation of criminal tendencies among certain sections of society.”
"Such content not only spreads misinformation but also has the potential to inflame communal sentiments, incite violence, disrupt societal harmony and indulge in crime against women. The instantaneous and wide-reaching nature of misuse of digital platforms amplifies these effects manifold,” it further read.
Banerjee wrote to Shah expressing her “deep concern” over the issue that is “increasingly posing serious challenges to public tranquility, and the social fabric of the nation" referring to the “proliferation of provocative content on some sections of the social media platforms and the alarming rise in cybercrime.”
Banerjee highlighted that the menace of cybercrime is growing both in complexity and in its detrimental impact.
“From financial frauds and identity theft to online harassment and defamation, cybercrimes are exacting a severe toll on individuals and institutions alike. Notably, both provocative social media posts and cybercrimes disproportionately affect the vulnerable sections of society- women, children, the elderly, and those from economically weaker backgrounds-who are often less equipped to identify, counter, or recover from such harm,” she wrote.
The letter underscored that this exacerbates existing social inequities and leaves large segments of the population exposed to profound psychological, financial and social distress.
The West Bengal CM has called for an urgent need for stringent legislative provisions that can act as an effective deterrent against the creation and dissemination of provocative content and acts perpetrated with criminal intent in cyberspace.
She said that the current legal framework and its enforcement requires further strengthening to keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem and the sophisticated methods employed by malicious actors.