The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued over 30,000 blocking orders between January and September 2026, up 35% from the same period last year, according to parliamentary records. That figure reflects a sharp uptick in AI‑generated deepfakes and misinformation flagged as threats to public order.
Section 69A of the Information Technology Act powers the government to direct platforms such as Meta, X and Google to block content on grounds of national security, public order and sovereignty. The procedure, codified in the 2009 Blocking Rules, allows emergency action and requires written reasons. Critics argue that the breadth of the directive risks over‑censorship.
The most visible use of the power came in May 2025, when the Ministry ordered the blocking of more than 1,400 URLs after a terror attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. Similar orders followed the July 2026 mobilization of the Cockroach Janta Party, which protested over leaked examination papers. In both cases, the government cited law‑and‑order concerns and the potential spread of inflammatory content.
The Supreme Court upheld Section 69A in a 2015 decision, but the recent wave of orders has prompted fresh legal challenges. Twitter and X have already taken the government to court, alleging lack of notice and disproportionate measures. A hearing on the constitutionality of the new orders is scheduled for November 2026.
For the 12‑year‑old Rahul from Jaipur, the surge has meant his school’s online portal was blocked on June 15, forcing parents to seek alternative resources. Rahul’s mother, Geeta, says the interruption has added to her already heavy workload. The case highlights the human cost of an increasingly automated censorship system.