Muslim-owned Indian news channel moves court over Facebook block
Kerala-based outlet challenges Facebook restriction, raising concerns over targeting of minority media and digital censorship
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A prominent Muslim-owned news channel in southern India has moved a court after its social media page was blocked for users inside the country, raising fresh concerns over digital censorship and press freedom.
MediaOne TV, a Kerala-based broadcaster, has petitioned the Kerala High Court challenging the restriction of its Facebook page, arguing that the action was arbitrary and lacked legal justification.
The channel said access to its page was blocked across India without any specific content being flagged or cited as violating platform rules. According to the petition, the only explanation provided was that the move followed a request from Indian authorities or law enforcement agencies.
While individual posts can be removed under platform policies or legal orders, the channel argued that blocking an entire page without transparency or due process violates both legal safeguards and established court precedents.
The restriction applies only within India, with the page remaining accessible globally. MediaOne said its ability to publish content has not been affected, but the domestic block significantly limits its reach to its primary audience.
The case adds to a broader debate over the regulation of digital platforms in India, where authorities have expanded powers to request content takedowns under information technology laws.
Rights groups and media observers have raised concerns that such measures are increasingly used without adequate disclosure or oversight.
MediaOne’s legal challenge also comes against the backdrop of a previous confrontation with the Narendra Modi government. In 2022, the channel’s broadcast license was revoked on national security grounds, a decision later overturned by the Supreme Court of India, which ruled that such claims must be backed by evidence and cannot be used to suppress critical journalism.
Analysts say the latest action highlights ongoing tensions between independent media outlets and regulatory authorities in India, particularly for organizations seen as critical of Hindu supremacist BJP government policies.
They warn that opaque restrictions on digital platforms risk undermining press freedom and limiting access to diverse viewpoints in the world’s largest democracy.
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