Instagram has restricted posts by The Hindu and Scroll related to victims of pellet gun injuries in Kashmir, citing legal requirements under India’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules. The latest action affected The Hindu’s post on Insha Mushtaq, blinded by pellet guns during 2016 protests, and two Scroll posts on compensation issues, with restrictions applied in early August, according to medianama.com.
The Hindu reported that Instagram displayed a notice stating the restriction was pursuant to India’s IT Rules but did not provide further explanation. Scroll said this was the fourth time since June that Instagram blocked its posts in India. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has previously restricted content on Facebook and other platforms following government orders, including satirical posts and accounts of various creators, often citing Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act.
These restrictions highlight ongoing tensions between social media platforms and Indian government regulations on digital content. Meta’s approach has varied across platforms, with some accounts remaining accessible on Instagram, YouTube, and X despite removals on Facebook. The enforcement of the IT Rules has led to multiple content takedowns related to politically sensitive topics, reflecting broader challenges in balancing regulation and freedom of expression in India’s digital space.
Meta’s content restrictions this year have included blocking or limiting accounts and posts from news outlets and creators, with the latest Instagram actions in August affecting posts on Kashmir pellet gun victims. These moves follow a pattern of government-mandated content moderation under India’s IT Rules, which continue to shape the digital media environment in the country.