Officials told to increase social media presence to counter misinformation

Amid unabated hoax bomb threats which have been disrupting flight operations across the country as well as abroad, Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan in a meeting with secretaries of top ministries is learnt to have urged upon them to enhance their engagement on social media to combat false narratives and incorrect information.

Sources aware of the development informed The Tribune that the meeting was chaired by the Cabinet Secretary recently in the wake of the rising menace of hoax calls, which have showed no signs of abating, despite Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu saying earlier this week that hoax calls will be made a cognisable offence as the situation is sensitive. Meanwhile, during the meeting with the Cabinet Secretary, a section of top bureaucrats are learnt to have shown their reservations in engaging too much on social media platforms, citing politicisation of sensitive issues by trolls and dilution of serious issues.

Meanwhile, during their October 23 meeting with officials of the Ministry of IT and Electronics, representatives of X and Meta are learnt to have conveyed to the Centre that they were willing to cooperate, however security agencies and Delhi Police should approach them through official channels. As many as 70 flights received fresh bomb threats on Thursday.