Videos documenting police brutality during protests in Delhi are facing restrictions on Meta-owned platforms, with journalists and social media users have been reporting that footage is disappearing from their feeds and some accounts are being blocked in India.
The reported curbs come amid a separate legal controversy over the Centre’s suspension of cellular internet services around the protests, with Union home secretary Govind Mohan tendering an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court in a contempt case on Thursday.
In an affidavit filed before the apex court, Mohan said the Centre had received a request from Delhi Police to suspend cellular internet services for a day, until 10 pm on October 10.
Cellular internet services were suspended from 10 pm on October 9 to 10 pm on October 10 within a 4-km radius of Raisina Hill, the home secretary said. He clarified that the order did not cover Wi-Fi, broadband or other non-cellular internet services.
"I state and submit that the suspension of internet services for a limited period and within a defined geographical area, subject to the applicable statutory safeguards, is a recognised measure that may be considered for maintaining public order in appropriate circumstances," he said.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday.
Several videos documenting what users have called excessive force by Delhi Police have reportedly been restricted on Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, with some accounts facing blocks or restrictions in India, according to social media users and journalists.
"After Police Brutality, It's Meta brutality," a journalist said in a social media post, alleging that accounts belonging to people covering the protests were being restricted.
Alt News has also reported restrictions on content documenting alleged police brutality. A video report published by Observer Post Hindi on Facebook on October 11 was reportedly restricted, with a notice attributing the action to an automated system and citing alleged non-compliance with India's information technology rules.
“Alarming! Lots of people are complaining that their Social media feed has suddenly changed in last 2-3 days. They are not getting feeds about Jantar Mantar / CJP / GenZ protests,” said former AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj on X.
“The government is not letting me post any video related to #CJP on Instagram. This is undeclared emergency,” said another account, explaining that a video made on CJP had been removed.
“I had uploaded that video on Instagram today and within 5 minutes it was blocked. I tried re-uploading but they are not letting me re-upload,” the user said.
The protests, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and Left student outfits, have continued for more than four days, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.