India blocks online satire targeting Modi under IT law
Government takedown orders targeting memes, cartoons and political commentary raise fresh concerns over digital censorship in India
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — India’s government has recently ordered the removal of several social media posts mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, using legal powers under the country’s Information Technology Act to block online satire, political commentary and criticism of government policies.
The takedowns were carried out under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, a provision that allows the government to direct internet platforms to block online content on grounds such as national security or public order.
According to reporting by Indian media, the orders were issued through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which sends confidential directives to social media companies requiring specific posts to be restricted inside India.
Evidence of the recent wave of censorship has emerged largely from users who shared official takedown notices they received from the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Under Indian law, companies must comply with government blocking orders but typically inform affected users that their content has been withheld in the country.
Among those affected was political cartoonist Satish Acharya, who revealed that two of his cartoons were withheld in India. The cartoons depicted India’s relations with Iran and the United States and included satirical portrayals of Modi in connection with regional tensions in the Middle East.
Users who received takedown notices reported that a wide range of content was targeted, including political satire, opposition commentary and posts criticizing government education policies. Some posts referenced debates surrounding regulations issued by India’s University Grants Commission, the national body that oversees higher education standards.
Comprehensive statistics on government censorship orders remain difficult to obtain because the blocking process is conducted under strict confidentiality rules. Social media platforms are legally barred from publicly disclosing the full list of government directives they receive.
However, available data suggests that content removal requests from Indian authorities have increased significantly in recent years. Data from Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — shows that content removed on government orders in the first half of 2025 was roughly three times higher than during the same period in 2023.
Digital rights advocates say such legal powers allow authorities to remove political content without transparent oversight, raising concerns about freedom of expression in the world’s largest democracy.
Section 69A has been used repeatedly in recent years to block websites, social media accounts and online posts considered sensitive by authorities. The law gained global attention after India ordered the blocking of hundreds of social media accounts during periods of political unrest and protests.
Legal experts say the confidential nature of the process means users often learn about the restrictions only after their posts are blocked, leaving limited avenues to challenge government decisions.
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