The home ministry is examining the recommendations of TK Viswanathan committee formed to propose new laws or amendments to deal with hate speech on the internet
- The committee submitted its report on section 66AA of IT Act.
- The committee was TK headed by Viswanathan who served as director of ADR, ICADR and as secretary general of the Lok Sabha
- After the Supreme Court of India struck down section 66A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, the committee was formed
Recommendations of the committee
- It is suggested that section 78 of the IT Act needs to be replaced and Section 153 and 505A of the Indian Penal Code need to be amended.
- Section 78 primarily dealt with capacity building and needs to be relooked at with a view to sensitize the officers of law enforcement agencies. Under it, a police officer of the rank of inspector or above was empowered to investigate offences.
- The committee has recommended that each state should have a State Cyber Crime Coordinator which should be an officer not below the rank of Inspector General of Police.
- The committee has also suggested that each district to have a District Cyber Crime Cell headed by an officer not below the rank of sub-inspector of police.
