As many as 73 Twitter handles, four YouTube videos and one game on Instagram that were allegedly circulating misinformation or hateful content have been suspended or removed.
The Ministry of Information and Technology (MeitY) has taken action against several accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Telegram for circulating morphed videos of a cabinet briefing and promoting explicit or hateful content.
In a tweet, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar revealed that 73 Twitter accounts had been suspended, four YouTube videos had been deleted, and one Instagram game had been taken down. The minister said owners of such accounts are being identified for action under the law, and asserted that platforms will be reviewed on their due diligence.
"Taskforce on Safe & Trusted Internet at @GoI_MeitY at work. Handles that tried to push fake/inciting content on twitter, youtube, fb, insta have been blocked," Chandrasekhar tweeted on Saturday.
On Friday evening, the minister had responded to a tweet that urged him to take action against the "creators of a very violent video that features the PM", which "has been in the public domain since December 2020". The minister had responded, saying, "On the job. @GoI_MeitY takes its responsibility to keep Internet Safe and Trusted and Intermediaries accountable for the content and due diligence very seriously".
According to the ministry, it had received a number of complaints stating that particular handles, users, and channels were posting inappropriate content and attempting to split communities. Furthermore, multiple films have been circulating on social media, including the most recent altered footage purporting to depict a cabinet briefing with overlay audio.
Sources said the government had identified 73 Twitter handles, 4 pieces of YouTube content, and 1 Instagram game. Accordingly, 73 Twitter handles have been suspended, 4 YouTube content and the particular Instagram game have been removed.
The government, last year, had introduced stringent rules for social media platforms to make them more accountable to end-users in one of the world's largest internet markets. The rules require social media companies to take down contentious content quicker, appoint grievance redressal officers and assist in investigations.