Overview

• On July 3, the West Bengal chief minister sent a two-page letter to Amit Shah urging tougher legislation to curb cyber offences and provocative social media content.
• She highlighted that incendiary narratives, misleading stories and fake videos on digital platforms are inflaming communal tensions and sparking crimes against women.
• Banerjee pointed to a surge in cyberoffences—from financial fraud and identity theft to online harassment and defamation—that is taking a severe toll on individuals and institutions.
• Her letter noted that vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly and economically weaker communities suffer disproportionately from harmful online content and cybercrime.
• The Union Home Ministry’s response is pending as West Bengal prepares statewide digital literacy and community engagement campaigns.