Contrasting Approaches to Social Media Regulation: Andhra Pradesh's Legislative Path vs Telangana's Surveillance Strategy

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are implementing contrasting approaches to social media regulation. Andhra Pradesh is developing comprehensive legislation to address misinformation and online abuse, while Telangana has generated controversy by enhancing surveillance measures and creating "history sheets" for repeat social media offenders.

Under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's leadership, the Andhra Pradesh government is pursuing a legislative solution to digital accountability. The state recently established a high-powered Group of Ministers (GoM) to study and draft new social media regulations.

This five-member committee includes prominent officials such as IT Minister Nara Lokesh and Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha. The GoM has been assigned to review existing legislation to identify enforcement gaps and compliance issues.

The committee will examine international regulatory best practices and recommend measures to hold digital platforms accountable for misinformation and online harassment. They are also expected to provide guidance on strengthening user rights and establishing dedicated agencies for content monitoring.

Chief Minister Naidu initiated this effort due to concerns about false information regarding government programs, while Home Minister Anitha emphasized that current laws inadequately protect women from online harassment and derogatory content.

The government intends to establish a fact-finding committee to verify claims and actively counter misinformation.

This initiative follows a July directive from the Andhra Pradesh High Court advising judicial magistrates to exercise caution and follow Supreme Court guidelines before remanding individuals based solely on social media posts, emphasizing the importance of protecting free expression.

In contrast, Telangana's government has adopted a stricter enforcement approach, focusing on increased surveillance of persistent offenders.

The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau has reportedly begun opening 'history sheets' – a measure traditionally reserved for serious criminals – against individuals categorized as "habitual social media offenders."

This controversial policy aims to place individuals who repeatedly share inflammatory content, hate speech, or significant misinformation under ongoing police surveillance and scrutiny.

Digital rights activists and legal experts have criticized this approach, arguing it could potentially suppress political dissent and infringe upon fundamental rights by subjecting users to surveillance without formal conviction.

Both states' initiatives reflect a broader national trend toward stricter digital regulation, highlighting the growing tension between maintaining order in digital spaces and preserving constitutional freedoms.