Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Centre has cautioned social media platforms about the significant risk to public order posed by the recent wave of fake bomb threats sent to airlines, urging them to act promptly against the spread of such misinformation. In an advisory issued on Friday, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology emphasized the need for social media platforms to uphold their due diligence obligations or risk losing exemption from liability for third-party content.
The advisory stated that air travelers and security agencies have been deeply impacted by the hoax threats, which have disrupted the regular operations of airlines. It also underlined that these threats are a danger to economic security, with social media platforms acting as conduits for misinformation through their forwarding, re-sharing, and reposting functionalities.
Centre’s Warning to Platforms
The Ministry highlighted that platforms are bound by the Information Technology Act (IT Act), 2000, and Information Technology Rules (IT Rules), 2021, to ensure due diligence in removing false information that threatens public order and security. Social media intermediaries were warned that their exemption for third-party information, data, or communication would not apply if they did not comply with these obligations or facilitated unlawful activities.
“If such intermediaries do not follow the due diligence obligations as prescribed under the IT Act read with IT Rules, 2021 or abetted or aided in the commission of the unlawful act, the exemption from liability for third-party information will not apply,” the ministry said in its advisory.
The platforms were further informed that non-compliance could lead to liability under the IT Act as well as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which recently replaced the Indian Penal Code. The government urged these companies to take active steps to prevent the spread of threats and misinformation, disable access to such content, and inform authorities of any potential threats to national security.
Impact on Flights
Since the onset of this series of bomb threats last week, over 275 flights have received threats, leading to significant disruptions. Many of these threats were posted on social media platforms, including X (formerly known as Twitter).
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu reiterated on Friday that strict action would be taken against those responsible, reaffirming that the safety of airline passengers and crew remains the government’s top priority.
“We are deeply concerned in the wake of recent hoax bomb threats disrupting air travel. I assure you that safety and security are our highest priorities, and we are committed to taking strict action against those behind these malicious acts. Let’s work together to ensure safe skies for all,” he posted on X.
Teen Arrested in Connection with Threats
Last week, a 17-year-old school dropout from Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, was taken into custody by Mumbai Police in connection with bomb threats issued on October 14. Officials reported that the teenager allegedly created a fake handle on X in the name of a friend with whom he had a dispute and posted bomb threats to implicate him.
Multiple agencies are investigating these threats, and cases have also been registered by the Mumbai and Delhi Police.
