Over 450 social media accounts blocked in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: So far this year, social media platforms — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram — have shut down over 450 accounts from Hyderabad, following appeals from local cyber crime sleuths. Majority of the offenders — cyber-stalkers and cyber-bullies — indulging in obscene content.
From the Rachakonda commissionerate alone, the three platforms were sent requests to block 382 accounts, between January and August. Of them, 289 accounts were taken down, said cops. In the case of Cyberabad commissionerate cyber crime police, during the same period, requested to block 250 Facebook accounts for similar crimes while the platform has so far blocked 162.
“If victims of such crime are minors, they take down the account and content within 24 hours. In other cases, their response can take longer, depending on the severity of the case,” said S Harinath, ACP (cyber crime), Rachakonda.
Case in point: A fake Instagram account of an offender created in March this year, to harass a 16-year-old girl. The accused, police said, had morphed the girl’s photograph and blackmailed her to send nude pictures and video. The stalker shared that content with the victim’s classmates and relative. Soon after the case was registered, Rachakonda cyber crime cops sent a request to Instagram to take down the account. “It was blocked within hours. They respond quickly when it comes to minor victims,” the officer reiterated.
In the case of Hema (name changed), the process took two months. The girl was being blackmailed by her college mate on Facebook. The known friend had shared her obscene pictures on his account. KVM Prasad, ACP (cyber crime), Hyderabad city: “Cases that involve minors get quick response.