Law and order: Keeping a digital watch: Thoothukudi police keep vigil over provocative social media posts

Thoothukudi being one of the sensitive southern districts of Tamil Nadu, has seen the district police’s social media monitoring mechanism play an increasingly important role in maintaining law and order.

The monitoring has helped the police identify and act against provocative and prohibited online content, by registering cases against the individuals who post such material on their social media handles.

Beyond the traditional culture of banners and wall posters, social media promotion has carved out a firm position in promoting events and functions. Posts announcing programmes, schedules and other local events are often followed by banner displays and other promotional activities.

However, the unimaginable expansion of social media has also opened avenues for its improper use. Some accounts have been found disseminating provocative, inflammatory and divisive content, while another section of these offenders posts photographs of themselves posing with sharp weapons and other prohibited materials.