The Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has alleged that social media posts and news reports critical of the state government are being blocked on Meta platforms, with senior CPI(M) leaders questioning the alleged use of the Union government’s IT Rules to restrict access to such content.
The allegations of social media restrictions come in the context of claims by two Kerala television news channels that Meta removed nearly 20 posts critical of Chief Minister VD Satheesan following legal requests. Kairali News, associated with the CPI(M), and Reporter TV made the claims.
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan said his statement questioning the government over the arrest of a person who claimed to be the CM’s social media coordinator in an MDMA case was also removed from social media.
Pinarayi said the Opposition had supported Operation Toofan, the government’s campaign against drug trafficking, and welcomed action against anyone involved in the drug trade. He, however, questioned the government’s alleged response after the arrest of a person close to the Chief Minister.
“But when a person close to the Chief Minister is arrested, questions are now being raised about whether the state government has switched sides and begun to favour the drug trade,” Pinarayi said.
He alleged that reports about the case were being restricted on social media in a manner that prevented users in India from accessing them.
“While Operation Toofan is being celebrated outside as a campaign against drugs, inside there appears to be wholehearted support for drug traffickers. What kind of farce is this? Is the criminal being protected in this manner with the knowledge of the Home Minister? The Home Department must explain,” Pinarayi said.
Pinarayi also alleged that the government was attempting to silence criticism by preventing even statements by the Opposition from reaching the public.
“The Chief Minister and the UDF are attempting to use the brute force of power, as during the Emergency, to suppress the media, the Opposition, and freedom of expression,” he said.
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) has also condemned the alleged removal of news reports critical of the government from social media platforms, calling the practice undemocratic and a threat to press freedom. The journalists’ body said reports by organisations, including Reporter TV and Kairali News, along with their social media cards, were allegedly being removed after complaints through government agencies.
“Such actions, which amount to media censorship, are contrary to constitutional values. The government must be prepared to explain the alleged undeclared restrictions on the media,” KUWJ said. It also argued that if a report is incorrect, the appropriate response is to challenge it through legal mechanisms rather than use government machinery to suppress it.
“Attempting to use government machinery to remove a news report from social media merely because the government does not like it is a fascist act,” KUWJ said, stressing that the right of media organisations to publish critical news is fundamental to democracy.
KUWJ President KP Raji and General Secretary Suresh Edappal demanded that the government immediately abandon what they described as an undemocratic practice.
CPI(M) Central Committee member P Rajeev alleged that the state government was misusing the IT Rules, 2021 to restrict criticism.
“The state government is attempting to misuse the Union government’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 to suppress criticism and public voices raised against it,” Rajeev said.
He alleged that posts criticising the government and Satheesan, along with reports published by media organisations critical of the government, were being geo-blocked on Meta platforms and made inaccessible to users in India.
Rajeev said the IT Rules were intended to deal with content involving national security, fake news, and threats to law and order, and questioned their alleged use against criticism of the government.
“Media reports criticising the government’s corruption and administrative failures as well as opinions expressed by ordinary people that neither constitute fake news nor create any law and order problem are being removed in an attempt to silence them,” he said.
He accused the government of finding an indirect way to restrict media organisations.
“Instead of directly banning media outlets, the government is attempting to undermine press freedom through the back door by blocking their social media posts,” Rajeev said.
He also referred to reports that the alleged restrictions were being implemented with the involvement of the Modi government.
“If this is true, it makes clear how carefully the Modi government is protecting the UDF government,” he said.
Rajeev said the ability to criticise those in power was a fundamental right in a democracy and warned against attempts to silence such criticism.
“In a democracy, the Constitution guarantees citizens and the media the fundamental right to criticise the government and the Chief Minister. Thinking that the government can continue in power by having critical news reports and social media posts removed is sheer foolishness,” he said.
“There must be a strong public protest against this,” Rajeev added.
The Opposition has also questioned the government’s silence over the arrest of the person claiming to be Satheesan’s social media coordinator.
CM Satheesan denied any involvement in removal of social media content. “My only request to Meta has been to reinstate the official Instagram page of CMO Kerala. That has not been done even after two months. Content published by certain online channels that favoured me were removed. Content related to the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Himachal Pradesh was also removed. So, will Meta remove content simply because my office or I ask them to do so?”