Posting doctored videos, hate speech, or communally inflammatory content on social media platforms in Jammu district will attract a jail term of up to three years, officials said on Friday.

District Magistrate Jammu, Dr. Rakesh Minhas, IAS, has issued a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, banning the posting, sharing, or forwarding of such content for 60 days, reported news agency KNS.

The order, which came into force with immediate effect, applies to all persons within the territorial jurisdiction of District Jammu, regardless of the platform used or the physical location from which the content is posted, if it affects public order within the district, officials added.

The directive explicitly prohibits seven categories of online activity, including: posting content promoting enmity between communities on grounds of religion, race, caste, language, or region; circulating morphed, doctored, or out-of-context images and videos; spreading rumors related to law and order; and organizing mob violence through social media, they said.

The order covers all major digital platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram, officials said.

Violations will attract simultaneous action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000, they added.

According to the order, promoting enmity between groups under Section 196(1) BNS carries up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine, or both. Acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India under Section 152 BNS can lead to imprisonment of up to seven years or a life term, along with a fine.

Administrators and moderators of WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, Facebook pages, and YouTube channels operating within or targeting residents of District Jammu shall bear joint responsibility for ensuring no prohibited content is circulated, the official said.

Social media intermediaries have been directed to act expeditiously on takedown requests via the government’s Sahyog platform, failing which they will lose safe-harbor protection under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000, officials said.

The Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, has been directed to ensure prompt registration of FIRs against violators, they said, adding that the Cyber Crime Unit, Jammu, shall undertake 24×7 surveillance of social media platforms to proactively identify prohibited content.

Special Social Media Monitoring Cells shall be constituted at the sub-divisional level under the supervision of respective Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), the official said.

All residents have been directed to refrain from forwarding inflammatory content and to promptly report such material to the nearest police station or the Cyber Crime Unit, officials added.

The order shall remain in force for 60 days from the date of issuance, unless extended, modified, or revoked earlier, the official further said. (KNS)