The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued an advisory urging all social media platforms to strictly comply with the Information Technology (IT) Rules and Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) by taking “reasonable efforts” to remove bomb threat posts promptly. The ministry warned that platforms failing to comply may lose their safe harbour protection under the IT Act, which currently shields them from legal liability for third-party content.

Impact On Airline Security and Public Order

The advisory highlights the disruptive impact of hoax bomb threats on airline operations, which affects both airline travellers and security agencies. “These threats not only disrupt normal airline operations but also pose a risk to public order and state security,” MeitY stated in its official release.

Economic and Social Concerns

According to the ministry, these hoaxes, particularly through social media, also threaten economic security. “The scale of spread of such threats has become dangerously unrestrained due to the ability to forward, reshare, repost, or retweet on social media,” MeitY emphasized. Over 250 flights, including those operated by Air India, IndiGo, Vistara, and SpiceJet, faced disruptions from hoax bomb threats on social media in the past ten days, impacting India’s aviation industry.

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Compliance and Information Sharing Requirements

MeitY’s advisory mandates social media platforms to share relevant information with law enforcement agencies within 72 hours. As per IT Rules 2021, social media intermediaries must provide data or assistance for verifying identities or assisting investigations to prevent, detect, or prosecute offences, especially cyber incidents.

Recent Incidents and Security Measures

Earlier this week, airports in Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, and Jharsuguda received bomb threats, all later confirmed as hoaxes. As a safety protocol, airport premises and specific planes were thoroughly inspected, with heightened security measures taken in response to these incidents.

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