Action on Social Media for Hoax Bomb Threats

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

• Recently, over 250 flights were affected by false bomb threats.
• The IT Ministry has directed social media to remove misinformation.
• Such threats impact both citizen safety and national security.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

The IT Ministry has advised social media platforms to promptly remove false bomb threat information, stating such actions could pose significant risks to national security and public order. Platforms are required to cooperate with law enforcement within 72 hours. If social media platforms fail to comply with the IT Act, they risk losing their “safe harbor” protection, which shields them from legal accountability for third-party content.

Over 250 flights, including Air India, IndiGo, Vistara, and others, have faced disruptions due to hoax bomb threats, primarily spread via social media. These threats have disturbed regular operations and drawn government attention, prompting stronger regulatory actions on misinformation.

The ministry states that these false threats are not only dangerous to citizens but also impact the nation’s economic stability. Given the rising frequency of these hoax threats, the government has instructed social media platforms to remove such content immediately to curb its spread.

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