You hold a responsible position in a ministry in the government. One day in the morning you received a call from the school of your 11-year-old son that you are required to come and meet the Principal. You proceed to the school and find your son in the Principal’s office. The Principal informs you that your son had been found wandering aimlessly in the grounds during the time classes were in progress. The class teacher further informs you that your son has lately become a loner and did not respond to questions in the class, he had also been unable to perform well in the football trials held recently. You bring your son back from the school and in the evening, you along with your wife try to find out the reasons for your son’s changed behaviour. After repeated cajoling, your son shares that some children had been making fun of him in the class as well as in the WhatsApp group of the students by calling him stunted, duh and a frog. He tells you the names of a few children who are the main culprits but pleads with you to let the matter rest. After a few days, during a sporting event, where you and your wife have gone to watch your son play, one of your colleague’s son shows you a video in which students have caricatured your son. Further, he also points out to the perpetrators who were sitting in the stands. You purposefully walk past them with your son and go home. Next day, you find on social media, a video denigrating you, your son and even your wife, stating that you engaged in physical bullying of children on the sports field. The video became viral on social media. Your friends and colleagues began calling you to find out the details. One of your juniors advised you to make a counter video giving the background and explaining that nothing had happened on the field. You, in turn posted a video which you have captured during the sporting event, identifying the likely perpetrators who were responsible for your son’s predicament. You have also narrated what has actually happened in the field and made attempts to bring out the adverse effects of the misuse of social media.

1. Job requirement (sole bread earner) v/s voice of conscience.
2. Transparency and accountability of the company.
3. Rule of law has to be respected.
4. Loyalty > blind faith v/s Loyalty to state
5. Public welfare.
6. Work culture, professional integrity and negligence issues.
7. trust issues with manager.

Alternatives available are:

1. Obey manager Merits:

2. Respected hierarcy at work place

3. Promotional opportunities and job security

4. Loyalty, trust maintained Demerits:

5. guilt conscience.

6. Non transparency, Non-accountability

7. Violation of state law requirements

8. Loss of professional integrity.

9. Disobey him and report it and registering it in law books and media. → External Whistleblowing Merits:

10. Professional integrity, honesty.

11. Rule of Law.

12. Accountability ensured. Demerits:

13. Job loss threat.

14. work culture vitiated.

15. Decision taken in haste (emotional state)

16. Convince manager about the futility of not registering the event in law books. In case, it becomes available to media, NGO without any official intimation, the company's image will suffer badly (Even when there is a claim that spill did not harm anyone). Social persuasion, emotional intelligence and composed speech and managerial skills are required to strike his cognitive consciousness and help prevail accountability and proactive professional conduct at workplace.

Merits: (1) This will lead to trasformed work culture, more trust and loyalty for well being of not

just inter-personal communications(relations) but also of professional needs too. (2) Accountability ensured, professionalism will lead to my growth internally.

(c) Had I been in his place, I would have proceeded with third option. In the last resort, whistleblowing is the option. But I am sure of the convincing abilities which will resolve the issue amicably. As the case is very old (1960s) and no environmental damage has been found, proactive approach to register in law books will only enhance company's reputation. this shall also save my job. In any case,

I shall perform my duties to the best of my abilities and conscience. and should not capitulate to any sort of pressure. I shall do the job without fear or favour.

Issues at stake :

1. Gender sensitivity
2. Cyber attack, cyber bullying
3. Revenue potential of social media → business ethics
4. Freedom of speech, repression
5. Lax, negligent authorities (Vigilance issues)
6. Capacity to deal with such issues on law enforcemat agencies

a) Options available :-

1. I will enable opening new accounts easily. Merits : (1) Revenue, business, profit (2) Freedom of speech. (3) Internet freedom. Demerits : (1) Violating business ethics. (2) Jeopardizing social interests. (3) Selfish Attitude to social issues. (4) Greed, want. (5) Gender insensitivity. (6) Irresponsible and non-accountability

2. I shall hire ethical hackers, best software engineers to design vigilant software designs to filter speech, and report abuse. I shall, then, collaborate with the respective nations' leadership and concerned ministry to ask them about their cyber laws and the need

to strengthen them in accordance to various international conventions like Budapest, Tallin Manual etc.

I, within my sphere can think of an innovative 'social media task force' [cyber police personnel of my own company] whose job will be to remain vigilant enough. This mammoth task can be done by innovation like Artificial Intelligence.

Freedom of speech with reasonable restrictions is what I desire to be done via these steps. Hence, I shall go with the 2nd option.

b) Definitely. Art 19(1)(a) talks about free speech, expression. Butt Art 19(2)

talks about respecting public order, public morality, decency and foreign relations, unity, integrity and sovereignty

Abuse leads to social tensions which can tear apart society. It leads to depression and other mental agony whose foremost victims are women and children. They have a right to life and personal liberty. Judiciary has laid down right to privacy as a fundamental right. They ought to live a life of dignity and honour. Our Fundamental duties also call for curbing derogatory remarks to our women.

Our laws, statutes should be reformed. e.g. IT Act, 2000 should be amended.

NGOs should disseminate awareness about sensitive usage of social media platforms for engagement, dialogue and not for trolling, abusing and bullying

Police reforms are must to make them capable enough to be vigil on cyber crime cases. Freedom plus discipline is order in society