Bengal bypolls: Facebook restricts local news pages covering Opposition campaign in Rejinagar

As the constituencies of Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal prepare for polls on October 6, journalists in the Murshidabad district have reported significant disruptions to their digital operations. According to reports from Alt News, several local news outlets covering the region have alleged that their Facebook pages have been restricted, limiting their ability to disseminate information regarding Opposition party campaigns.

The journalists claim that these restrictions specifically impact pages that have been providing coverage of Opposition activities in the lead-up to the bypolls. The allegations suggest that the timing of these content limitations coincides with the final phase of campaigning, raising concerns among local media professionals about the transparency and accessibility of information for voters in the district.

While the specific technical reasons for the page restrictions have not been confirmed by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, the situation has drawn attention to the broader challenges faced by regional media in navigating digital platform policies during high-stakes electoral cycles. Local press associations are currently monitoring the situation to determine if these restrictions are part of a wider pattern of content moderation or isolated technical errors.