Delhi University Establishes Committee to Formulate Social Media Policy for Employees

Delhi University has taken a proactive step by forming a six-member committee to devise a comprehensive policy regarding the use of social media platforms by university employees. The move, however, has sparked concerns about potential restrictions on the social media activities of employees, particularly teachers.

The official order issued by the university on December 8 announced the establishment of the committee, highlighting its role in framing a comprehensive social media policy for university employees. Professor Sanjeev Singh, the director of Delhi University Computer Centre, has been appointed as the chairperson of the committee, which will be tasked with steering its meetings and formulating the policy.

While the university's public relations officer, Anoop Lather, who is also a committee member, stressed that the initiative aims to address concerns related to multiple unofficial social media pages operating under Delhi University's name. Lather emphasized that the goal is to eliminate confusion arising from these unauthorized pages, stating, "This will not impact teachers' privacy; it was merely formed to straighten things out."

However, concerns have been raised by some members of the academic council, such as Maya John, who expressed apprehension that the forthcoming policy might impinge on the freedom of university employees. John remarked, "It seems like a troubling development in the direction of curbing DU employees' use of social media platforms and, hence, the democratic right and freedom of expression."

As the committee takes on the task of formulating the social media policy, the balance between ensuring clarity and addressing privacy concerns while upholding the freedom of expression for university employees remains a focal point of discussion. The outcome of the committee's efforts will likely shape the social media landscape for Delhi University employees in the foreseeable future.