The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has written a letter dated 18 July, 2018 seeking inputs from Internet service providers on how to block social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram among others.
According to a PTI report, this move is being considered in cases where the national security and public order could be under threat.
“DoT in the letter had said that the Ministry of Electronics and IT and law enforcement agencies have raised issue around blocking of certain mobile apps like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc to meet requirements under Section 69A of IT Act,” an official source told PTI.
The Indian law authorises the central government or any of its authorised officers to issue directions to block any information on the Internet in order to prevent people from inciting violence and hate speech.
There has been rampant spread of fake news on the Internet, which has lead to incidents of mob lynching in the country. The popularity of WhatsApp has transformed the messaging application into a platform to circulate fake news that inadvertently leads to mob fury.
Since WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption technology on its platform, it’s very difficult to track what’s being shared, which is why it has drawn a lot of flak from the Indian government. Only last month, the government had expressed its dissatisfaction over measures previously listed by WhatsApp for checking the spread of fake news.
However, WhatsApp has said that it is building a local team, including an India head, as a step to check fake news circulation.
Also, Section 69A of the IT Act mentions power to issue directions for blocking public access to any information through any computer resource.
There have been incidents in the past when the Indian government blocked social media apps. For instance, in Jammu and Kashmir on April 17, 2017 when 22 social media apps including Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, YouTube and many others were blocked.
—With inputs from PTI
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)