Digital rights advocacy group, the Software Freedom Law Center, India (SFLC.in), has criticised the recent suspension of thousands of X accounts, saying that “censorship actions hinder access to credible information” rather than addressing misinformation.
Last week, in the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Government of India had issued blanket censorship orders against several media organisations and journalists and issued orders to block close to 8,000 X accounts.
Among the targeted media organisations included The Wire, 4 PM News, Maktoob Media, Free Press Kashmir, BBC Urdu and individual journalists such as Anuradha Bhasin and Muzamil Jaleel.
“Censorship actions hinder access to credible information, creating public confusion rather than addressing misinformation,” SFLC.in said in a statement.
SFLC.in has called on the government to publicly release all blocking orders and ensure adherence to due process, including notifying affected parties and providing a fair hearing.
“Dissent and critical questioning are fundamental to a healthy democracy, as they foster accountability and transparency. SFLC.in asserts that blocking measures, when executed without due process, threaten democratic values by preventing diverse perspectives from being heard,” SFLC said.
SFLC.in had filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court on March 7, challenging the constitutionality of blocking content without allegedly following due process.
In times of misinformation, you need news you can trust. We’ve got you covered. Subscribe to Newslaundry and power our work.
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
