Centre forced to shut the social media hub proposal

NEW DELHI: CJI Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chadrachud took the PIL by Mohua Moitra, MLA from Trinamool Congress, who challenged the Centre’s decision to create SMCH. 

Centre’s proposal had detailed terms like scrutinisation of emails, which cannot be done without a specific sanction for the purposes of a criminal investigation. But the proposal got heated up in the politics and the Centre has informed the SC its decision. The AG informed the court that the Centre had withdrawn the proposal for a thorough review.

“It is to keep the government abreast of citizens views on its programmes and enable understanding perception on the working of various schemes. It would attempt to inculcate nationalistic feelings among citizens and be able to counter campaigns intended to harm India’s image globally,” said the Centre earlier to the notice given to the SC.

A M Singhvi, senior advocate and Moitra’s counsel said, “It is a project to create advance surveillance infrastructure in the country.” On July 13, the Supreme Court sought the Centre’s response to Moitra’s petition.

“The successful bidder would be required to collect digital media chatter from all core social media platforms as well as digital platforms like news, blogs and forums,” said the RFP for SMCH.

“To help predict and neutralise any media blitzkrieg from India’s adversaries and if social media and internet news and discussions could be given a positive slant for India,” the hun was intended to do this.

The requirement to store citizens activities on social media and archiving them bothered the petitioner.