Individual privacy should be protected in social media: CM

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Monday said social media should respect and protect privacy and rights of individuals.

Inaugurating a two-day workshop on “Social Media and Effective Governance” here, he said cyber crimes should be treated seriously.

Social media users should share news and opinions creatively with mutual respect to arrive at a common clear-cut vision in the society, he said.

“An individual’s privacy and rights has to be respected and protected by the social media. Cyber crimes should be viewed seriously,” he said in the event, organised by state Public Relations Department in association with Facebook.

The freedom, ensured by social media through net neutrality, should not be approached in an immature manner, he said.

“Unhealthy practices such as inciting religious hatred and exploiting women and children are seen in social media.

It should be realised that they all are crimes,” he said.

Vijayan said that it is more dangerous to spread “half-truths” than “false information”.

Measures should be found out to check the misuse of social media to ensure its credibility and responsibility, he said.

Chief Minister also reminded that the social media has more responsibility in the present context as it has emerged as a socio-democratic space.

Nitin Saluja, Policy Programmes Manager (South and central Asia), Facebook was among those who attended the workshop.