YSRCP urges Centre to probe misuse of IT laws for social media takedowns

New Delhi, July 21 (AHN) The YSR Congress Party has urged the Centre to order an independent inquiry into the alleged misuse of legal provisions to suppress social media content critical of the Andhra Pradesh government.

A delegation of YSRCP Members of Parliament led by Y.V. Subba Reddy met Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi and Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw at Parliament House on Tuesday.

The delegation submitted a detailed representation to Ashwini Vaishnaw seeking an inquiry into whether due process under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 was followed in legal requests reportedly made for the removal of social media content.

The MPs stated that the Andhra Pradesh CID had allegedly submitted legal requests to X seeking action against content posted by opposition leaders, journalists, political workers and ordinary citizens. According to the representation, more than 770 social media posts across over 150 X accounts were reportedly covered by these requests.

The delegation pointed out that the accounts reportedly targeted include the Leader of the Opposition, journalists, political workers and several citizens.

They said that if the allegations are found to be true, they raise serious constitutional concerns relating to the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a), possible misuse of criminal law, the chilling effect on democratic debate, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in government requests made to intermediary platforms.

The YSRCP MPs urged the Union government to conduct an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the takedown requests, verify whether all statutory procedures prescribed under the Information Technology Act and the IT Rules, 2021 were strictly followed, ensure that legal powers are not selectively used against opposition leaders or citizens, and strengthen transparency and accountability in government requests made to social media platforms.

The delegation said that democratic institutions must protect the constitutional right to free expression and ensure that legal mechanisms are not misused to silence dissent or target political opposition.