The Standing Committee on Information Technology has issued a formal directive to take action against social media influencers and platforms allegedly working against national interests following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.
The committee has requested the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) to provide details of contemplated actions by May 8.
In an office memorandum marked “Most Immediate,” the parliamentary committee stated that since the Pahalgam terror attack, “some social media influencers and social media platforms in the country seem to be working against the interest of the country which is likely to incite violence.” The directive calls for both ministries to outline steps for potential bans under the IT Act 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The committee has asked both ministries to furnish their responses by May 8, 2025, with the option of submitting digital copies to [email protected]. This marks one of the first major parliamentary committee interventions regarding social media content following the deadly attack that has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
The Pahalgam attack, which targeted tourists in the popular hill station, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, primarily Hindu tourists. The attack has been attributed to The Resistance Front (TRF), an organization that security agencies have linked to the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The assault has sparked widespread condemnation across the political spectrum in India and prompted several diplomatic measures against Pakistan.
