Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Four hundred and twenty-one pieces of inflammatory content about the general elections of 2024 have been removed by the Odisha Police Social Media Monitoring Cell. Five formal complaints have also been filed over infractions on social media sites, and they are currently undergoing different phases of inquiry, as stated in an official press statement. To support these initiatives, IT professionals have partnered with the Odisha Police as Cyber Volunteers.
These measures have been implemented in response to multiple incidents of inappropriate behaviour on social media, transgressions of the model code of conduct for elections, or legal infractions. Several networks, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X (previously Twitter), have all seen the action taken. These posts, which came from members of different political parties and other organizations, were found to be potentially insulting, abusive, provocative, or bigoted. This emphasizes the significance of proactive monitoring in preserving a calm atmosphere.
The Crime Branch’s Social Media Unit has operated for a while. However, all Police districts now have Social Media Cells that were established and operational under the directive of the Election Commission. Notable achievements have resulted from the State Social Media Unit and the District Social Media Cells working together:
i) On Facebook, 788 requests were sent for content takedown or removal. META has promptly responded by taking down or removing 256 posts/ accounts of objectionable content.
ii) In the case of Instagram, 471 requests were submitted for content takedown or removal. META acted upon on 154 of these requests, successfully removing problematic content from the platform.
iii) For YouTube, 96 requests were issued for content takedown or removal. Google has responded by taking down or removing 9 pieces of content, which were deemed inappropriate or harmful.
iv) Apart from these, around 950 handles are under surveillance across the state by various Social Media Cells of Odisha Police.
Social Media Cell’s main goal is to monitor popular social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter around the clock for offensive, hateful, and abusive posts. It will remove these posts and pages if necessary to ensure a free, fair, and impartial election process. To support these initiatives, IT professionals have partnered with the Odisha Police as Cyber Volunteers. These cooperative efforts show a proactive strategy to stop the dissemination of offensive or dangerous content on several social media platforms.
By posting daily updates on its official social media account, @cybercopodisha, the Crime Branch’s Cyber Crime Unit is also aggressively educating the public about financial fraud and cybercrimes. The purpose of these postings is to alert readers about the risks associated with fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and cybercriminals. Cyber Cops equip people with the knowledge and skills necessary to distinguish reliable sources from fraudulent content. Crime Branch also exhorts people to behave responsibly on social media and refrain from hurting other people or organizations. When utilized properly, it may be a very effective tool for both disseminating and gathering information.
Cyberpolice officers on cyber patrol are monitoring accounts with questionable behaviour, and appropriate legal action will be taken as necessary. Therefore, it is asked that people refrain from abusing social media to avoid breaking the law.
