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Setting up hub to monitor social media will create surveillance state: SC

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8 years ago

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Acer confirms data breach in India

The Supreme Court on Friday, July 13, said that Modi government’s decision to set up a social media hub for monitoring online data is “like creating a surveillance state”.

The remarks came when a Supreme Court bench of CJI Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud was hearing a PIL moved by a Trinamool Congress MLA Mahua Moitra against the Central government’s proposed move to set up a ‘Social Media Communication Hub’.

Under the proposed move, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B Ministry) is to set up a mechanism at the district-level for collecting and analysing digital and social media content.

Appearing for TMC MLA Mahua Moitra, senior advocate AM Singhvi said the government has issued a request for proposal and the tender will be opened on August 20. “They want to monitor social media content with the help of this social media hub,” PTI quoted Singhvi as saying.

Singhvi said this would give government access all data on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and emails and the move was completely violative of the right to privacy and would be invasive of the fundamental rights.

Justice DY Chandrachud then observed: “Tracking and regulating social media content will transform us into a surveillance state.”

Subsequently, the bench agreed to examine the matter and sought assistance of Attorney General KK Venugopal. It also issued a notice, calling for a formal reply from the Ministry concerned.

The Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the I&B ministry, had floated a tender to supply a software for the creation of a Social Media Communication Hub. “A technology platform is needed to collect digital media chatter from all core social media platforms as well as digital platforms such as news, blogs… In a single system providing real-time insights, metrics and other valuable data,” the tender document said

Under the project, media persons would be employed on contractual basis in each district to be the “eyes and ears” of the government and provide real-time updates from the ground. According to the tender document, the platform is expected to provide automated reports, tactical insights and comprehensive work-flows to initiate engagement across digital channels.

“The platform maybe used to disseminate content and hence, should support publishing features,” the document says, adding the platform needs to power a real-time New Media Command Room,” the tender document said

It said it will enable the ministry “to grasp the effect of various social media campaigns conducted on various schemes run by the Government of India” to “improve the scope” of such campaigns and “to make a specific theme trending”.

It is to be noted that the issuing diktats against the media has become a regular affair at the I&B Ministry. Not very long ago, the ministry had to pull out a notification mandating punishment to journalists on the basis of mere allegations of “fake news” through withdrawal of their accreditation – a government-issued badge that allows them access to government ministries and other offices.

A separate matter relating to WhatsApp licensing policy is also pending in the Court where the moot contention is again about letting the service provider read the content before passing it on to the recipient.

In that batch of matters, the Court had observed that the 2017 ruling on the right to privacy will have a huge impact on any attempt to regulate social media.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on August 3.

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PM Modi to visit Hyderabad in first Telangana trip since 2024 Lok Sabha victory

PM Modi will visit Hyderabad on May 10 in his first Telangana trip since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and unveil projects worth over Rs 7,800 crore.

Published

19 mins ago

on

May 9, 2026

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PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Hyderabad on May 10 to launch and inaugurate projects worth over Rs 7,800 crore while addressing a major BJP public meeting in Secunderabad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Hyderabad on Saturday in his first trip to Telangana after returning to power for a third term following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The visit is expected to combine infrastructure announcements with a major political outreach programme ahead of upcoming local body elections in the state.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for multiple development projects collectively valued at around Rs 7,823 crore. Among the key projects is the integrated industrial smart city at Zaheerabad under the Hyderabad-Nagpur Industrial Corridor, being developed at a cost of Rs 2,360 crore across 3,245 acres.

PM Modi is also scheduled to inaugurate the PM MITRA Kakatiya Mega Textile Park in Warangal. The project, estimated at nearly Rs 1,695 crore, is expected to attract major investments and generate employment opportunities in the textile and apparel sector.

Railway, highway and petroleum infrastructure projects are also part of the programme. These include the third railway line between Kazipet and Vijayawada and national highway works in Mahabubnagar district. A petroleum storage and distribution terminal in Hyderabad is also expected to be inaugurated.

Apart from official engagements, the Prime Minister will visit HITEC City to inaugurate Sindhu Hospital and interact with healthcare professionals before addressing a large public gathering at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad organised by the BJP’s Telangana unit.

The BJP has planned an extensive mobilisation drive for the event and is expecting a crowd of nearly two lakh people. The meeting is being seen as an important political show of strength as the party prepares for the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections.

Security arrangements have also been tightened ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, with restrictions imposed on drones, paragliders and microlight aircraft in parts of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

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Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora arrested by ED after raids in money laundering probe

Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora was arrested by the ED after raids at multiple premises linked to him in Chandigarh and Delhi-NCR under the PMLA.

Published

40 mins ago

on

May 9, 2026

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ED conducted searches at multiple locations linked to Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora before arresting him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act

Punjab minister and AAP leader Sanjeev Arora was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday after the agency carried out raids at premises linked to him in Chandigarh and the Delhi-NCR region.

According to officials, the searches were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED reportedly raided four locations connected to Arora and his associates before taking him into custody from his official residence in Chandigarh’s Sector 2.

Arora, 62, is the Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Ludhiana West and currently serves as a minister in the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Reports said this is the third time this year that the ED has conducted action linked to Arora. Earlier raids were also carried out in April and earlier this month as part of an ongoing investigation.

The arrest triggered strong political reactions from the Aam Aadmi Party. AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticised the BJP-led Centre, alleging misuse of central agencies against opposition leaders. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also attacked the BJP, saying Punjab would not be intimidated by such actions.

Several reports linked the ED action to an alleged money laundering probe connected to suspected fake GST transactions worth around ₹100 crore. However, the ED has not yet released a detailed official statement publicly outlining all allegations against the minister.

The arrest comes amid heightened political tensions in Punjab, where opposition parties and the ruling AAP have repeatedly clashed over corruption allegations and the use of investigative agencies.

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Sheikh Hasina praises Suvendu Adhikari after Bengal oath ceremony

Published

57 mins ago

on

May 9, 2026

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Sheikh Hasina

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has congratulated Suvendu Adhikari following his swearing-in as West Bengal Chief Minister, praising his “strong, people-oriented leadership.”

Adhikari took oath as the state’s first BJP Chief Minister during a high-profile ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and several NDA chief ministers.

In her message, Hasina reportedly expressed hope that Adhikari’s tenure would strengthen regional cooperation and reflect the aspirations of the people of West Bengal.

The BJP secured a sweeping mandate in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, winning 207 seats in the 294-member assembly and ending the long rule of the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee.

Adhikari, who emerged as one of the BJP’s key faces in Bengal politics after joining the party in 2020, was formally elected leader of the BJP legislature party ahead of the oath-taking ceremony.

The new Bengal Chief Minister has said his government will focus on development, governance and implementation of the BJP’s election promises.

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