IFF statement against the Alarming Escalation of Social Media Censorship and Proposed Expansion of Takedown Powers New Delhi, March 19, 2026 The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) is concerned by continuing reports of posts and accounts being withheld in India on Facebook, X and Instagram, including satire and criticism of the government. Recent reporting shows users receiving generic “withheld in India” notices or emails under Section 69A from social media platforms, with little or no explanation, while independent reporting has documented takedowns affecting speech that appears political, satirical, or critical rather than clearly unlawful. As reported by Business Standard and The Indian Express on March 18, the Union Government is currently exploring a proposal to decentralize content blocking powers under Section 69A of the IT Act. The new proposal would grant direct takedown powers to multiple ministries, including Defence, Home Affairs, External Affairs, and Information & Broadcasting. At present, MeitY signs off on Section 69A orders, while a separate notice and takedown channel already operates through Section 79(3)(b) and the Home Ministry led Sahyog portal that at least has 35 nodal officers across State Police Departments in India. At the same time, the February 2026 amendments to the IT Rules have sharply compressed compliance timelines. MeitY’s own published FAQ says intermediaries must act within 3 hours when they receive actual knowledge through a court order or a government intimation, within 36 hours for certain expedited grievances, and within 2 hours for specified complaints involving nudity, sexual content, morphed content, and impersonation. The government has also reiterated that intermediaries which fail to observe due diligence risk losing Section 79 immunity. A system built on speed, legal threat, and secrecy predictably incentivises over compliance. We remind the Union Government that the Supreme Court upheld Section 69A in the Shreya Singhal case on the basis of procedural safeguards and written reasons that could be challenged. Secret and inaccessible censorship defeats those safeguards in practice. IFF calls on the Union government to halt any move to decentralise Section 69A blocking powers further, publish blocking orders with only as per the letter and spirit of the Shreya Singhal judgement, and ensure timely notice to affected users with clear grounds and avenues for remedy. Platforms must also do more than send boilerplate messages. They should provide meaningful notice, preserve records for challenge, and publish granular transparency reporting given online censorship also impacts the public right to receive information. If your account or post has been withheld or blocked in India, please write to legal@internetfreedom.in with screenshots, URLs, and any email or platform notice you have received. IFF will try to assist impacted users and document patterns of opaque censorship.
