The Mumbai Police, in an affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court on Friday, revealed that it had kept under surveillance various social media platforms to curb the spread of misinformation related to Covid-19 pandemic, through prohibitory orders issued under Section 144 of the CrPC between April 10 and June 8. Also, it had blocked 1,816 objectionable contents on social media platforms.

The court went on to dispose two PILs challenging the validity of a May 23 order of the Mumbai Police making administrators of social media groups personally liable for misinformation and prescribing criminal action against them for spreading “incorrect, distorted information” and “inciting mistrust towards government”.