India is facing mounting criticism over tightening social media restrictions, with reports revealing a sharp rise in content removals—many linked to criticism of the government.
Recent data and watchdog reports suggest a growing pattern of takedowns, raising concerns about freedom of expression and transparency.
According to Indian media reports, around 111,000 social media posts were removed over the past year. Platforms are reportedly receiving about 290 takedown notices daily, with only three hours given to remove flagged content.
Notably, nearly one-third of the removed content is said to be related to criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers.
Alongside censorship concerns, cybercrime cases have also surged significantly. Reports indicate that incidents rose from over 1.4 million in 2021 to more than 2.9 million in 2025, reflecting a growing digital security challenge in the country.
Removals linked to Iran conflict
Over the past two weeks, internet watchdogs have documented dozens of takedowns of posts critical of the government’s stance on US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The Internet Freedom Foundation recorded at least 42 such instances between March 11 and March 19. The timing coincides with increased scrutiny of India’s foreign policy following Modi’s visit to Israel in late February, shortly before Israeli strikes on Iran.
Types of content targeted
The removed content includes political cartoons, satirical videos, opposition messaging, and commentary questioning India’s response to the Middle East conflict.
Cartoonist Satish Acharya said two of his cartoons on India-Iran relations were blocked, including one depicting Modi blindfolded beside a body labeled “Killed by USA & Israel.”
Satirical content by digital outlet The Wire, including videos mocking the government’s silence, was also taken down.
Additionally, AI-generated posts by opposition figures, comments by a retired Air Force officer, and parody accounts such as “@DrNimoYadav” and “@Nehr_who” were targeted.
A widely viewed satirical reel questioning Modi’s perceived closeness to Israel was also removed.
Religious and media figures
In early March, Meta restricted accounts of Kashmiri Shia clerics Molvi Masroor Abbas Ansari and Aga Syed Mohammad Hadi, along with several local news portals.
These actions followed protests linked to developments in Iran, further highlighting the broader scope of restrictions.
Opposition leaders have strongly criticised the removals. Supriya Shrinate, spokesperson for the Indian National Congress, said the trend reflects growing intolerance toward criticism.
“Bureaucrats will decide what is acceptable on social media. Anything critical of the prime minister will have to go,” she said, adding that she had received 11 notices in recent days.
She described the situation as “the biggest attack on freedom of speech.”
Lack of transparency
The takedowns are enabled by laws that allow the government to order removal of content on grounds such as national security or public order. However, these directives are confidential and not publicly disclosed.
Internet Freedom Foundation director Apar Gupta said the lack of transparency makes it impossible to verify intent or track decision-making.
“There is no public record of these orders… the opacity is by design,” he noted.
Experts say there has been a noticeable increase in blocking requests since late February.
Prateek Waghre, a researcher at the Tech Global Institute, confirmed an “uptick” in takedown requests and noted heightened sensitivity to criticism of government policy.
He added that at least 50 cases involving political speech and satire have been documented since February, though the actual number may be higher.
Govt defends actions
Government officials maintain that content removals are necessary to protect national security, maintain public order, and prevent the spread of harmful or inflammatory material.
A government official, speaking anonymously, said the measures are intended to prevent escalation during sensitive geopolitical situations and are not aimed at suppressing legitimate criticism.
Despite official assurances, digital rights advocates warn that the scale, timing, and secrecy surrounding the removals point to a troubling trend.
As geopolitical tensions rise, concerns are mounting over the balance between security and freedom of expression in India’s digital space.
