Why Social Media Posts Are Being Blocked in India Amid Protests: Explained

Social media users across major platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and X have recently reported an increase in blocked posts, reels, and accounts accompanied by notices reading "Your post is unavailable in India."

According to reports citing sources, Delhi Police have issued approximately 300 takedown requests over the past three months, with platforms acting upon the majority of them. These content restrictions have emerged concurrently with public demonstrations protesting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Understanding the Restrictions

• Reported Notices: Users have shared screenshots showing automated system restrictions citing India's Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
• Official Actions: Sources indicate Delhi Police issued about 300 takedown requests over three months, which platforms mostly actioned.
• Context: The blocks coincide with nationwide protests regarding electoral roll revisions and election commission leadership.

Platform Policies and Legal Framework

• Intermediary Rules: Under the IT Rules, 2021, platforms are required to restrict content when directed by authorized government agencies following due legal process.
• Rollout and General Availability: Content takedowns and geo-blocking are applied at the country level based on specific regulatory orders rather than general platform feature rollouts.
• Creator and User Impact: Users attempting to view restricted content receive automated error messages, limiting public visibility of certain protest-related discussions.

Verification and Practical Implications

• Verification Steps: Users can review official platform transparency reports or check notices provided directly by the platform when content is restricted.
• Official Announcements: For authoritative details on intermediary obligations, consult official notifications regarding the Information Technology Rules, 2021 published by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.