Provision of life-imprisonment for publishing anti-national content : UP Government’s New Policy on Social Media

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) – To exercise control over the content published on social media, a new policy has been devised by the Uttar Pradesh Government called ‘Uttar Pradesh Digital Media Policy 2024’. As per this policy, writing anti-national, objectionable and obscene posts may invite life-imprisonment. Social media influencers disseminating information on various Government schemes can earn lakhs of Rupees. This decision was taken at a UP Cabinet meeting, after which, Minister Sanjay Nishad said that this policy is applicable to all social media such as X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc.

UP’s New Social Media Policy : Provision for life imprisonment for those spreading Anti-National content

Uttar Pradesh Government schemes’ promoters will receive 2 to 8 lakh rupees.

The question arises that, why can’t other State Governments in the country function the way the… pic.twitter.com/PDua7c53sn

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) August 28, 2024

As per the policy, posting objectionable content may invite three years to life-imprisonment. If an entity or a company is found posting objectionable content, action could be taken against the concerned people. ‘Objectionable posts’ shall include indecent, obscene and anti-national content.

Influencers propagating Government schemes can get Rs 2 to 8 lakhs

The Uttar Pradesh Government has said in a press release that the Government schemes will be published on all social media. Accordingly, the influencers could be given an opportunity to publicise these schemes based on their followers and subscribers. Such influencers may get Rs 2 to 8 lakhs as monthly package. All influencers on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube can benefit from this scheme.

Editorial Perspective

Why other State Governments in India are unable to run the administration as Yogi Adityanath runs the UP Government ? Other BJP ruled States should also contemplate about this.