Indian Government Takes Sweeping Action, Blocks Over 36,000 URLs on Social Media, With Majority Targeting Elon Musk's X
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued these directives to foster an internet environment in India that is open, secure, trustworthy, and accountable.
In a significant move to uphold the integrity of the digital space in India, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued orders to block access to more than 36,000 URLs across various social media platforms. Confirming this development, IT Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar emphasized that a majority of these directives were directed at Elon Musk's X.
The government's actions fall under the provisions of Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, allowing lawful directions for blocking access to information deemed necessary in the interest of sovereignty, integrity, defense, security, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order, or in cases of inciting cognizable offenses.
Responding to queries from CPI(M)'s John Brittas, IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar clarified the government's stance, stating, "The government issues lawful directions for blocking access to information by the public under Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000."
The data provided by Chandrashekhar sheds light on the extent of government interventions, particularly with Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter, topping the list with the highest number of blocking orders – a staggering 13,660 – between 2018 and October 2023.
Among other major social media platforms, Facebook received 10,197 blocking orders, Instagram faced instructions to remove 3,023 URLs, YouTube dealt with 5,759 orders, and various other social media intermediaries encountered 4,199 orders during the specified period.
The MeitY, through these orders, seeks to establish an open, safe, trusted, and accountable internet environment in India. The number of URLs subjected to blocking orders exhibited variations each year, with the highest recorded in 2020 at 9,849.
This move by the Indian government underscores its commitment to regulating and maintaining the integrity of the digital space, ensuring responsible use of social media platforms in alignment with the country's interests and security. The figures shared with the opposition leader shed light on the government's active role in curbing content that could compromise national integrity or incite unlawful activities.
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