A.P. CM orders formation of Special Task Force to check social media abuse

Published 10 July 2026 · politics

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Friday held an extensive discussion on the growing misuse of social media, with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directing the

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Friday held an extensive discussion on the growing misuse of social media, with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directing the Police Department to launch a concerted crackdown on defamatory campaigns, fake news and objectionable online content targeting political leaders and the government. Chairing the Cabinet meeting, Mr. Naidu instructed the senior police officials to immediately constitute a dedicated task force to monitor and take action against those involved in character assassination and the spread of false information on social media platforms. The issue assumed political significance as Ministers expressed serious concern over videos and posts allegedly aimed at maligning public representatives and the coalition government.

While reiterating that freedom of expression must be respected, the Cabinet made it clear that abusive, defamatory and unlawful content would not be tolerated. Senior police officials, including Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta, made a detailed presentation before the Cabinet on the challenges posed by social media, cybercrime and the spread of misinformation. During the discussions, Mr. Naidu advised leaders of the ruling coalition not to react emotionally to ‘provocation from the YSR Congress Party’, but at the same time directed police to take prompt legal action wherever objectionable and defamatory remarks violated the law. The Chief Minister alleged that certain groups were deliberately spreading caste-based narratives and fake information on social media to serve political interests.

He said that ‘blade batch’ and ‘ganja batch’ elements were being used as tools for political conspiracies and directed officials to ensure effective control over such activities. Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar said Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan had suggested that the Home and Law Departments work in close coordination to curb fake news and regulate misuse of social media. Harish Kumar Gupta also reportedly cautioned that proposed user-name features on WhatsApp could pose challenges in tackling online abuse and misinformation. Cybercrime The Cabinet further directed the appointment of an Inspector General-rank officer to oversee cybercrime issues exclusively and asked the Police Department to operationalise the proposed task force immediately.

If required, experts from outside the government may also be recruited to strengthen its technical capabilities. The Cabinet’s decision comes amid an intensifying political battle between the ruling NDA coalition and the opposition YSRCP, with social media emerging as a major arena for political messaging and counter-campaigns. By ordering a dedicated enforcement mechanism, the government has signalled a tougher approach towards online misinformation and defamatory content on social media.