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The Cyber Police Station in Siwan, Bihar, has directed X to remove several posts related to an alleged mob-lynching incident involving a Muslim boy, saying the content was “objectionable, misleading, fact-less” and could disrupt law and order.
Posts flagged during the investigation: The June 1 notice, issued as part of a cyber police investigation, identified posts from journalist @meerfaisal001 and accounts @abufawaz24, @bihar_police, and @SarwarRashid10. Authorities said the content had gone viral on social media and could lead to “loss of life and property.”
Invoking Section 79 of the Information Technology Act and Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the police asked X to remove the content, preserve related data, and share details linked to the accounts under investigation.
Data sought from X: The notice sought information including the name, IP address, phone number, email address, GPS location, and recent access details of the creator, original source, or uploader of the content. It also warned that failure to comply could result in legal consequences under the IT Act and the BNSS.
Reacting to the action, the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) said the posts had been taken down following the police notice. The digital rights group argued that such actions raise concerns about online free speech and press freedom, particularly because one of the affected accounts belongs to a journalist.
The police notice does not explain why the posts were considered misleading, other than to state that they related to the mob-lynching incident and could affect public order.
Part of a wider trend: The Siwan notice comes amid a broader debate over online censorship and content takedowns across India. In recent months, authorities in states governed by different political parties have issued similar notices seeking removal of social media content or user information.
At the Centre, several journalists, satirists, media outlets, and social media users reported receiving blocking orders under the IT Act. MediaNama documented more than 40 instances of geo-blocking, account withholding and content takedowns in March 2026 alone.
In Telangana, police sought user data from X for the TeluguScribe account and separately wrote to the platform seeking removal of posts linked to corruption allegations involving a Congress MLA.
In Tamil Nadu, the Cyber Crime Wing asked X to block 18 URLs under Section 79(3)(b), citing concerns related to public order.
In Punjab, independent journalists alleged that the AAP government was using copyright claims, legal notices and Section 79(3) of the IT Act to target critical reporting.
In Andhra Pradesh, police sent notices to X seeking the removal of content related to Google’s proposed AI data centre project, while Meta restricted posts and videos linked to reporting and activism around the project.
The cases involve governments led by different parties, including the BJP at the Centre, the Congress in Telangana, the AAP in Punjab, the TVK in Tamil Nadu and the TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh. The examples illustrate how debates around online speech, platform takedowns and access to user data cut across political lines.
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