The centre has asked for more time - 3 months - to frame rules to regulate hate speech, fake news, defamatory posts and anti-national activities on social media platforms. In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court today, the government said there had been an exponential increase in such messages and posts and greater control of the internet and social media platforms were needed to to help protect national security. The affidavit was filed after the top court asked the government what steps were being taken in this regard