Bhubaneswar, April 8 Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said on Wednesday that the state government was considering enacting legislation to curb the use of offensive and abusive language on social media, noting that these platforms were becoming "toxic media".
"Those making vile comments on social media should refrain from doing so. Otherwise, the government will take strict action against them in the coming days," he said in a post on X.
He went on to say that it has been noticed that "social media is in the process of becoming toxic media"
"Abusive language is being used on social media, and there are no restrictions on it. The proposed legislation will target obscene and abusive speech, ensuring accountability from those who misuse online platforms," the state law minister added.
Sources said the legislation being contemplated by the government will extend to public spaces, bringing the use of abusive language under regulatory scrutiny.
The State Law Commission has submitted its recommendations to curb the rising misuse of social media.
While Odisha BJP's social media chief Umakant Patnaik backed Harichandan, saying there should be stringent legislation to stop social media misuse, the BJD's youth wing president Chinmay Sahu expressed worry that "the BJP may use this proposed law for political benefit and target political opponents".
The Congress' student wing leader, Yasir Nawaz, alleged that it was the BJP leaders who used offensive words targeting their opponents on social media.