Secular/Democratic India: Woman arrested for clicking 'Like' on Facebook

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In India a 21 year old woman was arrested for posting a status on Facebook that was critical of a deceased politician. In addition, her friend that “liked” the status was also arrested, and the post wasn’t even threatening or violent in any way.

According to CSM:

“The offending post against recently deceased leader Bal Thackeray resulted in two arrests, the latest in a string of crackdowns on Internet speech in the world’s largest democracy. The police in Mumbai arrested Monday a 21-year-old college student Shaheen Dhada for a Facebook status update and her friend Renu Srinivasan for clicking “Like” on the update.

The case is the latest in a string of recent crackdowns on Internet speech in India. The update had criticized a general strike called by a political party, the right-wing Shiv Sena, to mourn the death Saturday of its elderly founder and patriarch, Bal Thackeray. The controversial leader has been hailed by Hindu nationalists but also criticized by liberals for leaving behind a legacy of political violence in India’s financial capital.

The party has been accused of anti-Muslim violence in Mumbai in 1992, and Mr. Thackeray frequently made statements against Muslims.” In her Facebook post, Ms. Dhada wrote, “Respect is earned, not given and definitely not forced. Today Mumbai shuts down due to fear and not due to respect.” She also said that politicians like Thackeray are “born and die daily” and the city need not shut down for it, and that people should remember the martyrs of the Indian independence movement.

The article also states that:

“Dhada and Ms. Srinivasan were arrested under section 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code that seeks to punish statements that amount to “creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes.” Additionally the two students have also been charged with Section 66A of the Information Technology Act that criminalizes online speech that is “grossly offensive or of menacing character.”

Another law they have been charged with is Indian Penal Code 295A, which makes insulting or outraging religious feelings an offense. The punishment for each count is three years imprisonment each.” This policy of spying on people over the internet and making arrests as a result is currently being implemented worldwide.

Last month, President Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines signed the Cybercrime Prevention Act, which defines several new acts of “crimes” committed online, including, among others, cybersex, identity theft, harassment, hacking, spamming, and pornography.

This has also been happening in the US as well, earlier this year a veteran by the name of Brandon Raub was taken to a mental hospital and detained against his will for controversial political statements that were made on his Facebook page

(Intelhub)

Pakistan Cyber Force

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