New Delhi : The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has informed a parliamentary standing committee on IT that it blocked multiple social media accounts and URLs after the Pahalgam terror attack and during Operation Sindoor –– India’s direct military response to the April 22 attack that claimed 26 lives.
The action was taken against social media influencers and social media platforms which were “working against national interest,” the ministry said. (File)
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In response to the committee’s queries sent earlier this month to MIB and the IT ministry, the former said the content blocking orders were issued under section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Information Technology (intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics code) Rules, 2021. Several URLs, and accounts were blocked for access in India under these provisions, MIB said in its memo dated May 20.
The action was taken against social media influencers and social media platforms which were “working against national interest,” the ministry said.
Though the MIB said it “received multiple requests for blocking content on the internet,” the memo did not mention which ministries or departments had sent these requests.
The MIB also listed additional actions it had taken, including a May 8 advisory directing OTT platforms, media streamers, and social media firms to remove Pakistani content.
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The directive covered web series, films, songs, podcasts, and other streaming media, whether behind a paywall or freely accessible.
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The directive covered web series, films, songs, podcasts, and other streaming media, whether behind a paywall or freely accessible.
I am a technology policy reporter with the National Political Bureau at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi. I cover digital policy and the intersection of technology and society, focusing mainly on what's happening in India. My beat often involves tracking platform regulation, privacy, internet curbs, and the real-world impact of digital rules, among other things. Can usually be found reading government notifications so that you don't have to.
I cover three key ministries: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of Communications, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B).
I am originally from New Delhi and a graduate of the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. Over the past nine years, I have worked across television, digital and print media with The Secretariat, CNN-News18, Tiranga TV, Interesting Engineering, and now Hindustan Times.
Although I am not on X, I can be reached at sejal.sharma@hindustantimes.com for tips, a chat or book recommendations. I respond fast, usually within a couple of hours.
Outside of work, I enjoy playing badminton and driving my car. I am a firm believer that every trip — work or leisure — deserves a fridge magnet.
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Home/India News/‘Blocked social media accounts after attack’: MIB tells parliamentary panel
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