A total of 130 cases of “hate news” were reported to social media platforms between the 2019 Lok Sabha election and the latest round of Assembly polls in five States held earlier this year, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Mr. Rijiju made these remarks while responding to the BJP’s Kirodi Lal Meena. “Total number of ‘hate news’ cases reported to social media platforms is 130...,” he said.
During the 2019 Lok Sabha election, 58 such cases were reported. While the Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly election in 2019 saw only one such case being reported, in the 2020 Delhi Assembly polls, 34 cases were reported.
In the Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry Assembly polls last year, 29 cases of “hate news” were reported, he added.
