The Indian government has directed national security agencies to intensify surveillance of “anti-national” content circulating on online platforms, according to official sources. Social media companies and digital platforms are now being held responsible for proactively monitoring and reporting such material.
The directive was issued amid rising concerns over digital platforms allegedly being used to spread misinformation, incite communal tensions, and promote content deemed detrimental to national security. The government has emphasized that platforms are no longer passive hosts of content but active intermediaries, legally obligated to prevent the circulation of such material under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Officials said failure to comply could lead to punitive actions, including criminal liability. While no specific definition of “anti-national” was clarified in the directive, authorities have indicated that content threatening public order, inciting violence, or targeting the sovereignty of the country will fall under scrutiny.
Civil society and digital rights groups have raised alarm over the directive, warning that such vague terminology could be misused to suppress dissent and curb free expression. Critics argue that the lack of judicial oversight and transparency may lead to arbitrary censorship.
This development follows a growing pattern of online regulations in India aimed at tightening control over digital ecosystems, with implications for privacy, press freedom, and the future of open internet discourse.
