Government Takes Strong Stance on hoax Bomb Threats, Issues Advisory to Social Media Platforms

In the last few days, false threats of placing bombs in planes are being made in the country. The central government has adopted a strict attitude regarding this. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued an advisory stressing on the responsibility of intermediaries including social media companies as important to curb false bomb threats being received by various airlines.

It is stated in this advisory that social media Intermediaries must comply with the IT Act, IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules and the Indian Civil Code (BNS), 2023. Social media platforms need to immediately remove illegal content to maintain security and public order. Malicious acts such as false bomb threats to airlines are a threat to security and public order. Such threats not only affect a large number of citizens but also destabilize the economic security of the country.

The level of these false bomb threats has increased significantly. This is helped by social media functions like forwarding, re-sharing, re-posting and re-tweeting. This misinformation is a major disruption to the functioning of airlines, air passengers and public order. In view of this, intermediaries including social media platforms have an obligation under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 to exercise vigilance and immediately remove misinformation that affects security and public order. .

In this regard, the Ministry says that intermediaries including social media platforms have an important responsibility. These intermediaries should immediately remove misinformation and block access to bomb threats and illegal content within a stipulated time frame. Along with this, intermediaries should report such activities which may threaten the unity, sovereignty, security or economic stability of the country. These intermediaries should cooperate with government agencies. Along with this, necessary information and assistance should be provided for investigation or cyber security efforts. These intermediaries have to ensure that this is done immediately and within a time frame of 72 hours. Some arrests have also been made in the investigation of false bomb threats.