‘Some social media influencers working against India’s interest’ after Pahalgam attack: Parliamentary panel tells Centre

New Delhi: A parliamentary panel has asked for details from the Centre regarding action taken against some social media influencers and platforms who are accused of “working against the interest of the country” in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

“Some social media influencers and social media platforms in the country seem to be working against the interest of the country, which is likely to incite violence,” according to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Information Technology, led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. It wrote this to the ministries of Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology.

The committee has called on the ministries to provide “contemplated action to ban such platforms under IT Act 2000 and Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021”.

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The letter has been sent to the secretaries of the two ministries, who have been asked to submit the details by May 8, according to PTI sources.

Channels blocked for ‘provocative’ content

On April 22, 26 people, mostly tourists, were gunned down by terrorists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley. India blamed Pakistan for the attack. Following the attack, the government cracked down on social media, imposing a ban on over a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly disseminating “provocative” content. YouTube channels of Pakistani news outlets Dawn, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Raftar, Geo News and Suno News were among those which were banned.

Last week, the sites were blocked in India, by a message stating it was due to an “order from the government related to national security or public order”.

After the attack, in a crucial security meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the armed forces have complete operational freedom to decide the method, targets, and timing of India’s response. India has announced a slew of punitive measures against Pakistan. It has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, shut down the land border crossing at Attari and downgraded diplomatic ties with Islamabad.