UP cabinet approves strict social media policy with severe penalties

• UP Cabinet introduces strict social media policy with severe penalties
• Influencers can also earn up to Rs 8 lakh monthly by promoting government schemes
• Designated agency 'V-Form' to manage social media content for the government

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved a new social media policy aimed at regulating content across platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube. This policy introduces stringent guidelines for addressing objectionable content and mandates legal action for violations, marking a significant shift in how digital platforms are governed in the state.

Under the new policy, posting anti-national content is now classified as a serious offense, with penalties ranging from three years of imprisonment to a life term. Previously, such offenses were dealt with under Sections 66E and 66F of the Information Technology (IT) Act, which primarily focused on privacy violations and cyberterrorism.

In addition to this, the dissemination of obscene or defamatory material online can result in criminal defamation charges, further emphasizing the legal risks of misusing social media platforms.

The policy also encourages the promotion of government schemes, initiatives, and achievements through social media, offering substantial financial incentives for influencers. Influencers can earn up to Rs 8 lakh per month by sharing content related to government initiatives on their platforms, with specific payment limits set for various social media channels. For example, influencers on X, Facebook, and Instagram can earn up to Rs 5 lakh, Rs 4 lakh, and Rs 3 lakh per month, respectively. On YouTube, the limits are set at Rs 8 lakh for videos, Rs 7 lakh for shorts, and Rs 6 lakh for podcasts.

The digital agency 'V-Form' has been designated to handle the government's advertisements on social media, responsible for managing the showcasing of videos, tweets, posts, and reels.