Centre, States Roped in 54,800 to Monitor Online Content

Context:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs and various State governments have enlisted 54,800 cyber volunteers to monitor and flag unlawful online content under an initiative to combat cybercrime.

Relevance:GS 3 (Internal Security)

Launch and Objective:

• The initiative is part of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) launched in 2020.
  • Encourages citizens to:
    • Report illegal content.
    • Promote cyber hygiene.
    • Assist law enforcement as experts.

Volunteer Statistics:

• Total: 54,833 cyber volunteers categorized as:
  • 22,942 for reporting unlawful content.
  • 22,071 for raising awareness.
  • 9,819 as cybercrime experts.
  • Focus areas include national security, sovereignty, defense, and public order.

Volunteer Actions:

• Registered volunteers report flagged content through the official portal.
  • Address critical incidents like cyberattacks on government sites, e.g., during the G-20 summit.

Criticism:

• Organizations like the InternetFreedomFoundation warn of potential risks:
  • Fostering a “culture of surveillance”.
  • Eroding social trust.