Increase in police powers to remove social media posts

Senior officers of the Delhi Police have been empowered by the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) to issue “takedown orders” to social media companies and other intermediaries. They have been given the power to remove what may be classified as “illegal content” under the Information Technology Act 2020.

The news print and TV media in our country are serving as vehicles for spreading disinformation and pro-government propaganda. This is the case not only with respect to the government run TV channels. Private news media are owned by the big monopoly capitalist houses which set the agenda for government policy and legislation. In such conditions, those who are opposed to the monopoly capitalists and to the government have to rely largely on the internet and social media to expose the truth and express any critical views.

Journalists and political activists who have been using online media and social media platforms for propagating their views have often had their content taken down in recent years. In March 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting banned 18 social media platforms under the IT Act 2020. Online news media channels such as NewsClick have faced harassment and intimidation, including the arrest of its editor for nearly 6 months in 2023-24. Various online media platforms and youtube channels have been banned, or faced threats of suspension and ordered to take down content not approved by the authorities.

The most recent notification which increases the powers of the Delhi Police is being justified in the name of “regulating” social media. However, it is only the content that expose the existing exploitative order and the unjust actions of the government which are being targeted by the authorities. Content intended to spread communal hatred and provoke conflicts among the people based on religion and caste are allowed to be freely spread. So are social media posts which degrade the dignity of women.

The increasing powers of the police to take down social media content constitutes an attack on the right to conscience. It is a blatant violation of the freedom of speech and expression, which is considered a fundamental right of citizens. These increasing police powers must be firmly opposed by all those who uphold democratic rights and human rights.

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