Tamil Nadu cops ask YouTube to delete 386 videos

CHENNAI: The state cybercrime police have asked YouTube to delete 386 videos for inflammatory content against the chief minister, ministers, governor and others in this year from January 1 to April 30. On their request, Play Store has removed 221 loan apps from its platform during the period. The wing has also asked Play Store to remove 61 other apps.
The cybercrime police initiated the action following complaints and representations from investigation officers and the state intelligence wing.
Additional director general of police (ADGP) Sanjay Kumar said, "The state government sanctioned 28 crore to buy new gadgets. We have procured many tools and handed over the basic tools to all the cybercrime wing police stations in the district headquarters and other zonal offices in the state."
Tools to track URL and crack passwords of mobile phone, laptop and computer are among those procured. "They have helped the law and order, crime and other specialised police units in all the district headquarters and cities," the ADGP said.
Most of the cyber fraud operations are done using mobile numbers. Hence, suspension of such mobile numbers is the key to preventing such activities, said a cybercrime police officer.
The Indian cyber crime coordination centre (I4C) of the ministry of home affairs has launched a central online portal for raising requests to block SIM. The State Nodal Officer, Superintendent of police (SP) of the cybercrime wing, is given power to raise requests for mobile number/SIM blocking in the NCRB portal after verification of the mobile numbers involved in cybercrimes.
Tamil Nadu has requested blocking of 20,197 mobile numbers, of which 19,654 have been blocked from April 5 to 20 alone. "In April, at least 55,000 fake mobile numbers registered in children's names were blocked. Reviewing the numbers, we found that one person had taken 419 SIM cards in his name," said ADGP Sanjay Kumar.
The cybercrime cops have started conducting checks at 1,000 shops in the state for selling SIM cards to 'fake' people. The raid will continue on Saturday and Sunday, said the officer.