New Delhi: In a significant move to control online narratives, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has blocked over 10,000 social media accounts and websites in an effort to suppress liberation movements across the country.

According to Kashmir Media Service, data from a recent meeting between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology showed that more than 10,500 social media accounts and websites have been shut down between 2021 and 2023. This step is indicative of an increasing trend of digital censorship and restrictions on freedom of expression in India.

The government has not only focused on blocking content associated with the pro-Khalistan movement but has also targeted pro-freedom Kashmiris, the Popular Front of India (PFI), and Waris Punjab De (WPD). Over 2,000 additional accounts and websites linked to these groups have been blocked, raising the total to over 28,000. The majority of these blocks were on platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

In addition, more than 2,200 accounts on YouTube and Instagram, as well as 225 on Telegram and 138 on WhatsApp, were blocked during this period.

Digital rights activists in India have expressed serious concerns about the government’s actions, criticizing the lack of oversight and transparency in the process. They warn that such measures pose a threat to digital freedoms and the rights of citizens to express themselves freely on media and social media platforms.