The government has asked the NIA and other central agencies to take action against those spreading anti-national, provocative and slanderous content and videos on social media, home ministry sources said on Tuesday.
The revelation came on a day X said it was “deeply concerned about ongoing press censorship in India” following the Centre’s alleged order to block as many as2,355 accounts.
Rights activists have in the past expressed apprehension about the potential misuse and overreach of the Modi government’s proposed plan to regulate social mediacontent.
A home ministry official on Tuesday said the NIA and other agencies had been directed to monitor digital content that could pose a threat to national security or spread anti-India propaganda.
The decision was taken after officials from several ministries, including home, law and justice, electronics & information technology and communication, held meetings and emphasised the need for accountability in the digital space.
“Freedom of expression cannot be a shield for irresponsible actions that endanger the nation’s unity, integrity and security,” said a home ministry official.
He, however, declined to comment on whether action would be taken against the Right-wing accounts and government-friendly influencers accused of spreading fake news, propaganda and hateful ideologies.
Sources said even the social media platforms had been prodded to monitor and curb the circulation of anti-national and misleading content.
“The government has made it clear to social media companies to implement stronger verification processes for influencers. Legal proceedings could be initiated against those influencers found to be promoting divisive narratives or misinformation,” a government official said.
Social media platforms have been asked to regularly update the government on the action taken against such posts and material at their end.
“Action will be taken under Indian law not only against those posting such content from outside India but also against individuals and networks that amplify or share such videos,” the official said.
A large number of anti-India videos have been blocked recently, including online videos of Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and his followers.
In March, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre to formulate a mechanism to regulate social media content after consulting all stakeholders but cautioned against censorship.
“We have suggested the solicitor-general to deliberate upon and suggest such a regulatory mechanism which does not impinge upon the right of free speech and expression but at the same time is also effective enough to ensure the parameters of such fundamental right as stated in Article 19 (4) of the Constitution,” the apex court had said.
It added that the draft regulatory mechanism should be brought into the public domain for feedback before any legislative or judicial measure is taken.
In 2022, the ministry of electronics & information technology had published draft rules that proposed the formation of an appeals panel that could overturn the decisions by social media platforms on content takedowns, which would have possibly made India the first country to bring Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to heel.
Later, the draft amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Liability and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, disappeared from the ministry’s website as a storm started to brew over the highly contentious move.
