Social media cos need to ensure platforms not misused to weaken country's morale: Prasad

After directing YouTube to pull down objectionable video links of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, the government Thursday sent out a stern warning to social media firms not to allow their platforms to be abused for "weakening the morale of the country".

"The Indian democracy celebrates freedom of expression and ideas but in the light of the current situation, we expect social media (companies) to ensure that their platforms are not allowed to be abused by putting such videos that are designed to weaken the morale of the country," IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said after the Cabinet briefing.

He added that the government expects social media platforms to act more responsibly and address such issues with urgency.

Prasad said following a directive from the Home Ministry, the IT Ministry had sent a notice to Google-owned YouTube to remove 11 links of "humiliating videos" pertaining to Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

These videos were removed following the directive, he ...