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Union Minister of IT and Electronics Ashwini Vaishnaw, in the Lok Sabha session on December 8, highlighted the need for tighter regulations to deal with cybercrimes.

The Minister emphasised the need to have “a lot of discussions and a broader consensus” on bringing “stricter norms” for over-the-top (OTT) platforms to check the telecast of movies and shows that cause disharmony among various communities and religions.

During the question hour, Vaishnaw said, “This subject of cybercrimes, the way it is affecting our children, actually there is a need to have a consensus for making much tighter regulation. There is no doubt about it.” Wherever the government makes an attempt to tighten cyber laws even a little, the members here start shouting that it is an attack on democracy and people’s right to freedom, he added.

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Congress member Hibi Eden raised the issue of cybercrimes and children becoming victims of cyberbullying. He was of the view that the existing cyber laws were “quite weak” to deal with the problem and asked the IT Minister if there was a specific instruction from the ministry to increase the awareness level of officials in various government departments on cybercrimes.

Answering a question on making stricter censor norms for OTT platforms. Vaishnaw said, “Across the world, people are really worried where the entire cyber world is heading because of the way social media intermediaries have become all-pervasive today. So the point that the member has raised today needs a broader consensus, not only in India but across the world. We need to have lots of discussions and a broader consensus in our society for this.”

(With inputs from PTI)

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