Question : Setting up of Social Media Communication Hub

(a) whether the Government has proposed to set up a Social Media Communication Hub to monitor, collect and analyse data across all major social media platforms and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the project could invade an individual’s right to privacy and the right to freedom of speech and if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has proposed to install a chip in television set-top boxes to ascertain the viewership data and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the move will result into a serious breach of individual’s right to privacy and proved to be a new tool of surveillance and if so, the details thereof and the steps proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard; and
(e) the other major steps taken by the Government in this regard during the last two years?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING {COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)}

(a) The Government proposes to set up a Social Media Hub to facilitate information flow regarding its policies and programmes through social media platforms i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube etc.
(b) There is no proposal to invade an individual’s right to privacy, and the right to freedom of speech.
(c) At present, there is no such proposal.
(d) Does not arise.
(e) Ministry in the past 2 years has been a facilitator in providing publicity to the flagship schemes of the Government on major social media platforms. In this regard, it has organised live social media interactions and competitions on social media platforms on various issues.

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