In 3 years, Modi government blocked over 10K social media URLs promoting Khalistan referendum: Report

Section 69A of the IT Act allows the government to give out content-blocking orders to online intermediaries like internet service providers (ISPs), telecom service providers, web hosting services, online marketplaces, and search engines, among others. However, the information or content being blocked has to threaten India's national security, public order, or sovereignty, as per the section.

The Narendra Modi government in three years has blocked nearly 10,500 Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) associated with the pro-Khalistan referendum, Indian Express reported.

Section 69A of the Information Technology Act was invoked in the matter and the latest data was reportedly discussed recently by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) with senior members of the Ministry of Home Affairs. This section of the IT Act allows the government to give out content-blocking orders to online intermediaries like internet service providers (ISPs). telecom service providers, web hosting services, online marketplaces, and search engines among others. However, the information or content being blocked has to threaten India's national security, public order, or sovereignty, as per the section.

"Since 2021, around 10,500 URLs related to the Khalistan referendum have been blocked under section 69 (A) of the IT Act. Also, many mobile apps launched for spreading the Khalistan referendum were blocked by the department concerned… Around 2,100 URLs related to the PFI (Popular Front of India) were blocked under Section 69 (A) of the IT Act," the publication reported a source say.

The source added that many radicalisation posts and accounts linked to LTTE, J&K militants, Waris Punjab De (WPD) were also blocked during this time.

The Centre, in the last three years, has locked 28,079 URLs and most were from Facebook (10.976), followed by X (10,139). Most of the URLs from Facebook which were blocked were found to be part of fraud schemes.

During this period, around 2,211 YouTube accounts, 2,198 Instagram accounts, 225 Telegram accounts, and 138 WhatsApp accounts were also blocked.

The publication reported that 6,775 social media accounts were blocked in 2022; 12,483 in 2023; and 8,821 in 2024.

X saw 3,417 accounts blocked in 2022, 3,772 blocked in 2023, and 2,950 blocked till September 30, 2024.

Facebook meanwhile saw 1,743 accounts blocked in 2022, 6,074 in 2023, and 3,159 in 2024.

"Probe has revealed that most of the blocked Facebook URLs were used to take users to third party websites or app stores from where they were either directed to download android package kit, or WhatsApp groups to fraud them through trading, investment or work from home type frauds," the officer said, adding, "On Instagram, 355 accounts were blocked in 2022, as many as 814 in 2023 and 1,029 this year. On WhatsApp, 66 accounts in 2022, as many as 16 last year and 56 so far this year were blocked."

On YouTube, 809 accounts were blocked in 2022, 862 in 2023, and 540 in 2024.

"The URLs were blocked based on the recommendations of the MHA, which had received inputs or evidence from central intelligence agencies that some of the sites and apps allegedly contained “material prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India," the officer stated.