Government issues advisory to curb hoax bomb threats on social media

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued an advisory highlighting the responsibility of intermediaries, including social media platforms, to curb the spread of hoax bomb threats by various airlines operating in India. MeitY has emphasized that social media intermediaries must comply with the IT Act, 2000, the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These platforms are required to disallow unlawful posts immediately remove content to maintain public order and safety.

Cases of malicious acts, such as false bomb threats against airlines, pose a potential threat to public order and state security. While such threats affect a large number of citizens, they also destabilize the country’s economic security.

It has been observed that the extent of the spread of these hoax bomb threats is alarmingly rampant, made possible by social media features such as ‘forward’, ‘reshare’, ‘repost’ and ‘retweet’. This disinformation significantly disrupts public order, airline operations and the safety of air travelers.

In this context, intermediaries, including social media platforms, have a due diligence obligation under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”) and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules, 2021”), to immediately remove disinformation that damages public order and state security, an official press release said.

The ministry has emphasized that intermediaries, including social media platforms, have important responsibilities. They must quickly remove disinformation and disable access to unlawful content, such as fake bomb threats, within a certain time limit. In addition, intermediaries are required to report any activities that could endanger the unity, integrity, sovereignty, security or economic stability of India under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. They must also cooperate with government authorities and provide necessary information and assistance for investigations or cybersecurity. efforts so that this happens quickly and within 72 hours.