Indian authorities censored content from at least six accounts related to the Jantar Mantar protests in New Delhi. This content, including videos of alleged police violence and critiques of media propaganda, was taken down via IT Act provisions. It’s a stark reminder for creators and journalists of the rapidly shrinking digital public sphere during dissent.
How We Got Here
The censorship drive follows severe police action and an internet shutdown initiated on July 20, 2026, during ongoing student protests in New Delhi. Notices cite Section 79(3)(b) and Section 69A of the IT Act, regulations frequently used for content moderation.
The Numbers
- Cockroach Janta Party's official Instagram page is currently inaccessible, displaying no notice of blocking.
- DW News journalist Sadhika Tiwari's reel, posted July 20, 2026, was geo-blocked, featuring a student crying after alleged police beatings.
- Maktoob Media's two-minute Hindi channel reel, discussing public resistance to media propaganda, was also blocked in India.
- Content creator News With Ritik saw at least two Instagram posts removed, one alleging RSS and BJP members assaulted protestors.
- Akshay Chandra Madhav reported Instagram removed two posts for "Community Guidelines" and withheld another under IT Rules, accusing Meta of government coordination.
What Happens Next
🇮🇳 Why This Matters for India
For content creators and independent journalists in cities like Lucknow, Patna, and Bhopal, these arbitrary takedowns raise significant concerns about freedom of expression and digital safety.
The Take
This is a clear move to control the narrative around a public protest by stifling citizen journalism, pushing dissent further underground. Expect more private messaging apps to become primary channels for sharing such content, bypassing traditional social media.
Source:
MediaNama ↗