Dissemination of “wrong” information through social media to create tension in the society have worried the US Police as much as their Indian counterparts which have been witnessing riots and mass exodus due to “mis-information” being churned out through this medium.
Police chiefs of India and the US, during a two-day conference which concluded here today, discussed threadbare the problems being created due to dissemination of “wrong” information through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and online messaging portals whatsapp.
“We are witnessing robust dimension on social media. The progress is in across the globe. But there are problems of formulation and dissemination of inaccurate information which have the potential of destruction,” chief of Aurora police in the US Daniel Oates told reporters here.
Uttar Pradesh Police have said the recent riots in Muzaffarnagar, which had claimed more than 60 lives, was instigated by a “doctored” video circulated through social media platforms.
The mass exodus of Northeast origin people from South India in 2012 was triggered by the rumours floated through social media and online messaging portals.
Oates said the police chiefs discussed various aspects of social media, shared their experiences and how to counter such dissemination of potentially destructive information and “our conversation was helpful”.
Sharing their experience of deliberations with Indian police chiefs, Art Acevedo, who heads Austin Police, said the American top police officers were taken aback by the complexity of policing in India.
“We were taken aback with the complexity of policing in India. There are enormous tasks. Just see the sheer volume of people. No police force is perfect. But Indian agencies are working their best. It is a daunting task,” he said.
—-PTi