Instagram takes down content critical of Vizag data centre projects, cites IT Act notices

According to a report by Alt News, Instagram has removed content critical of data center projects in Visakhapatnam, citing legal notices issued under India's Information Technology (IT) Act. The takedowns are part of a broader pattern of digital content restrictions that activists, journalists, and opposition politicians claim have intensified in recent months. Critics argue that these measures are being used to suppress dissent regarding government-backed infrastructure and policy initiatives.

The IT Act, specifically Section 69A, grants the Indian government the authority to issue directions for blocking public access to information through any computer resource. While the government maintains that such measures are necessary to ensure national security and public order, digital rights advocates have expressed concern over the lack of transparency in how these takedowns are executed. The specific notices mentioned in the report target content that raised environmental and economic concerns regarding the Vizag data center developments.

This incident highlights the ongoing tension between digital platforms operating in India and the regulatory framework governing online speech. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has previously stated that it complies with local laws in the jurisdictions where it operates. As of now, there has been no official statement from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology regarding these specific takedowns. The situation remains a point of contention for civil society groups monitoring digital freedom in the country.