India social media crackdown

On 6 August 2026, Arvind Kejriwal said Meta Platforms had restricted his Instagram account in India at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request, linking the action to a wider government probe of alleged child‑sexual‑abuse material and deep‑fake content and urging other users to pressure the company.

The following day, after India’s new social‑media law took effect—requiring platforms to remove any government‑flagged post within three hours—Kejriwal accused the legislation of being designed to silence criticism of Modi and the ruling party. He cited recent youth protests at Jantar Mantar and university campuses, warning that dissent would be deleted while abusive material could remain.

Later reporting on 7 August noted that the law has amplified youth anger. Kejriwal warned that suppressing free expression will backfire and pointed to selective enforcement: posts on paper leaks, ethanol policy and corruption are targeted, whereas abusive content aimed at women receives no action. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and students protesting exam irregularities in Jharkhand also called for dialogue, highlighting broader tensions between the government and India’s young population.