GUWAHATI: The Central government has blocked a record 28,000 URLs across various social media platforms in 2024, citing concerns over national security, public order, and the spread of harmful content.
ALSO READ: ISRO To Launch Proba-3 Mission On December 4 To Study Sun's Corona
Particular focus was placed on URLs promoting the Khalistan referendum and content related to the banned organisation Popular Front of India (PFI).
The takedowns were executed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which empowers the government to restrict access to information deemed detrimental to the nation. Platforms such as Facebook (operating under Meta), X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp were the most affected, reflecting the wide scope of the government's crackdown.
Facebook and X recorded the highest number of blocked URLs, each exceeding 10,000 in total. Other platforms also saw significant removals: YouTube had 2,211 URLs blocked over three years, Instagram tallied 2,198, and Telegram accounted for 225. Additionally, 138 accounts on WhatsApp were blocked during this period.
In-depth investigations revealed that many of the blocked URLs on Facebook redirected users to third-party websites or app stores offering fraudulent apps or scams involving trading, investment, or work-from-home schemes.
