kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has formally urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take stringent measures against escalating use of provocative content on social media and the sharp rise in cybercrime. In a carefully worded two-page letter dated July 3, 2025, Banerjee expressed alarm at the threats these issues pose to national security, communal harmony, and the mental and financial well-being of citizens.

Banerjee referenced recent incidents in Bengal—such as violent outbreaks in Murshidabad and Maheshtala—where she says misleading narratives, inflammatory posts, and fake videos played a key role in inciting unrest and communal tension. She warned that such content not only spreads misinformation but can actively fuel violence and even crime against women .

She highlighted the role of digital platforms in rapidly amplifying incendiary content. “The instantaneous and wide-reaching nature of digital platforms is amplifying these threats manifold,” the letter states . In parallel, Banerjee noted that cybercrime is evolving, with perpetrators resorting to increasingly sophisticated methods to perpetrate financial fraud, identity theft, online harassment, and defamation .

These digital crimes, she warned, disproportionately affect vulnerable groups—women, children, the elderly, and economically disadvantaged individuals—who are less equipped to identify or respond to online threats, deepening social inequities .

Banerjee urged the Centre to enact “stringent legislative provisions” to deter creation and sharing of provocative content and to bolster existing laws to keep pace with rapidly changing digital crime methodologies . She emphasized that current legal frameworks and enforcement are inadequate for the evolving online threats.

Beyond legislative action, the chief minister called for nationwide awareness and digital literacy campaigns, advocating that citizens must be empowered to critically evaluate online content and swiftly report suspicious activity . Community engagement programmes, she argued, will foster responsible digital behavior and counteract misinformation .

Banerjee urged that this issue be elevated to a top-priority status in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, beginning July 21, emphasizing its significance for public peace, national unity, and democratic integrity.

The letter also carries political undertones, as Banerjee has previously accused the BJP of circulating misleading content about Bengal. Her call for centralized action comes ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, and addresses growing tension over digital platforms being weaponized during communal and political conflicts .

Mamata Banerjee’s appeal to Amit Shah combines concerns over public safety, democratic sanctity, and social equity, presenting cybercrime and provocative digital content as urgent, intertwined challenges requiring coordinated legislative and educational responses at the national level.

West Bengal’s chief minister has urged the Home Ministry to enact tougher laws and ramp up enforcement against provocative online content and cybercrime. The appeal, framed within the context of recent communal incidents, stresses the need for digital literacy, community awareness, and legal reform ahead of the upcoming parliamentary session.