Government Doubles Online Content Blocking Orders Amid Surge in Deep Fakes
Govt’s online content blocking orders double to 24,000 in a year, over half on X
The Indian Express
Image: The Indian Express
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has doubled online content blocking orders to 24,300 in 2025, primarily targeting content on X (formerly Twitter). This increase is attributed to the rise of deep fakes and objectionable AI-generated posts, with 60% of orders focused on X. High-profile complaints, including from Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, highlight the urgency of the issue.
- 01Online content blocking orders by MeitY have surged to 24,300 in 2025.
- 02Approximately 60% of these orders are aimed at content on X (formerly Twitter).
- 03Deep fakes and objectionable AI-generated content are major reasons for the increase.
- 04High-profile complaints, such as those from Shashi Tharoor, underscore the issue's urgency.
- 05The blocking process involves multiple government ministries and has seen an increase in emergency measures.
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The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has reported a significant rise in online content blocking orders, which have doubled to 24,300 in 2025, compared to an average of 6,000 in previous years. Authorities attribute this surge to the increasing prevalence of deep fakes and objectionable content generated by Artificial Intelligence on social media platforms. Currently, 60% of the blocking orders target content on X (formerly Twitter), while 25% focus on Facebook and Instagram, and 5% on YouTube. The recent spike in requests for blocking content peaked during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, with many originating from nodal officers in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs. High-profile complaints, including one from Congress MP Shashi Tharoor regarding deep fake videos, have drawn attention to the issue. The blocking orders are issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000, which allows the government to restrict access to content based on various grounds, including national security and public order. The process has become more frequent, with the Blocking Committee convening several times a week to address urgent requests, often bypassing the standard procedure due to the emergency clause.
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The rise in blocking orders may affect the availability of information on social media, impacting users' access to diverse viewpoints and political discourse.
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