August 3, 2018:
On Friday, Centre submitted before Supreme Court Bench that it is withdrawing a proposal to create a social media hub, which petitioners had alleged would become a tool to monitor citizens' social media activities.
Attorney General K K Venugopal submitted that Centre is withdrawing the notification proposing the creation of such a hub so it can conduct a complete review of the policy on this issue.
Proposal to create a social media hub was challenged by Trinamool Congress MLA Mohua Moitra, who alleged that it was a tool being bought to create a 360 degree profile of those who make "noise" on social media on important issues.
In June, Apex Court agreed to hear Moitra's petition challenging Centre's decision to create a Social Media Communication Hub (SMCH) on the ground that it was an attempt to snoop on citizens' social media activities in violation of their right to privacy.
Government had claimed that move would keep it abreast of citizens' view on various programmes and help understand their perception on various schemes.
Moitra's Advocate Mohd Nizam Pasha submitted before SC Bench comprising of Justice S Abdul Nazeer and Justice Indu Malhotra that the proposal to set up SMCH would become a tool in the hands of private agencies to help the government launch surveillance on citizens' activities on social media platforms in violation of right to privacy, which is a part of right to life.
Moitra accused Government of attempting to invade the privacy of citizens by keeping a watch on their activities online to create a 360 degree profile of persons "who are creating a buzz on social media".
Source TOI
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