'Remove hoax bomb threats or...': Centre's advisory to social media platforms amid hoax bomb threats to Indian airlines

PTC News Desk: Amid a rise in hoax bomb threats affecting Indian airlines, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued an advisory to all social media platforms. The ministry has asked social media platforms to follow the provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Rules and Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and make "reasonable efforts" to 'promptly' remove bomb threat posts or "be held liable".

The ministry has warned online platforms that failing to comply with the IT Rules may result in the loss of their safe harbour protection under the IT Act. The rule now shields platforms from legal accountability for third-party content published on their social media platforms.

Issuing a statement, the IT Ministry said, "Airline travellers and security agencies are being affected due to such hoax bomb threats that disrupt the normal course of operations of the Airlines. The instances of malicious acts in the form of hoax bomb threats to such airlines lead to a potential threat to the public order & security of the state."

"Such hoax bomb threats while affecting a large number of citizens also destabilises the economic security of the country. Further, the scale of spread of such hoax bomb threats has been observed to be dangerously unrestrained due to the availability of the option of 'forwarding/re-sharing/ re-posting/ re-tweeting' on the social media platforms," the statement further read.

Over 250 flights, including those of Air India, IndiGo, Vistara, SpiceJet, and others, have been targeted by fake bomb threats, largely via social media, in the last ten days, causing disruption in India's domestic aviation industry. Hotels, schools, and other entities have all received similar warnings.

In its recommendation, the IT Ministry also noted that all social media platforms must give information on the situation to law enforcement agencies within 72 hours.

"In addition to the above, the IT Rules, 2021 obligates the intermediaries to provide information under its control or possession, or assistance to the Government agency which is lawfully authorised for investigative or protective or cyber security activities, for the purposes of verification of identity, or for the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution, of offences under any law for the time being in force, or for cyber security incidents, well within the stipulated timeframes (as soon as possible but not later than 72 hours)," it added.