A parliamentary committee has sought information from the Centre on the steps taken against some social media influencers and sites reportedly working against the nation’s interests in the wake of the April 22 terror strike at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a formal letter to the Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology ministries, the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Information Technology conveyed grave concerns regarding digital content that may have the potential to trigger violence.
“Likely to Incite Violence,” Warns Panel
“Specific social media influencers and some social media platforms in the nation appear to be operating against the interest of the nation, which is sure to lead to violence,” the committee said in its letter.
The panel has particularly sought information on any “considered action to ban such platforms under IT Act 2000 and Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.”
Ministries Asked to Respond by May 8
The letter was written to the secretaries of the two ministries, asking them to provide the required information by May 8. The committee underlined the need for swift and timely government action in addressing digital threats to national security.
The Pahalgam Terror Attack
The parliamentary intrusion comes after the terror attack at Pahalgam‘s Baisaran valley, where 26 civilians—the majority of them tourists—perished. The attack is viewed as one of the most deadliest attacks on civilians in recent decades.
Indian authorities have blamed the attack on Pakistan. Islamabad, however, denies any hand.
Tracking Digital Menaces in the Aftermath of Violence
This move marks the government’s growing emphasis on controlling digital content and pushing back against cybernarratives that may destabilize the nation, especially in the wake of deadly attacks.
The panel’s action is one of a series aimed at protecting online spaces from being used as sites of misinformation or instigation, particularly in times of national crisis
