The Centre’s recent crackdown on social media content has sparked a sharp debate, with the government defending its actions as essential to curb the growing threat of deepfakes, while opposition parties and digital rights groups warn of increasing censorship. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the rapid rise of artificial intelligence has led to a surge in manipulated content across platforms, calling deepfakes a “serious threat” to society, institutions, and individuals.
He noted that social media platforms have significantly increased takedown actions, in some cases doubling or tripling efforts to contain misleading or harmful content. According to the government, stricter enforcement is necessary to maintain public trust and digital safety.
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However, concerns have intensified after multiple social media accounts, including critics of the government, were blocked under Section 69A of the IT Act. Several handles on X, along with posts by fact-checker Mohammed Zubair, were reportedly restricted. Similar actions were seen on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, where pages of news outlets and satirical content creators were withheld.
The Indian National Congress has criticised the move, alleging a growing pattern of digital censorship, including demonetisation of YouTube channels and removal of critical content. Meanwhile, the Internet Freedom Foundation has raised concerns over lack of transparency in takedown orders, urging clearer explanations and legal remedies.
Adding to the debate, the government has proposed amendments to the IT Rules, 2021, allowing stricter action against independent digital content creators, further fuelling concerns over regulation versus free expression.
