Influencers come under scrutiny for ‘Anti-National’ social media content post Pahalgam attack

India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has raised a red flag over the role of certain social media platforms and influencers. This comes in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who chairs the committee, expressed alarm over digital content that allegedly works “against the interest of the country,” hinting at incitement and disinformation.

Sources close to the committee indicated that such content risks stoking unrest and eroding public trust in national institutions.

In a formal communication to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the panel has requested a status report on actions initiated or contemplated under the IT Act, 2000, and the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021.

The panel has specifically sought clarity on steps to ban or restrict the operations of social media accounts or platforms that allegedly promote anti-national sentiment, with a reporting deadline of May 8.

Several social media accounts have already been suspended for allegedly violating India’s national security standards. The panel’s directive comes amid ongoing efforts to clamp down on digital propaganda, fake news, and coordinated disinformation campaigns.

The government’s concern is rooted in fears that unchecked digital narratives can escalate communal tensions or provide ideological cover to extremist groups, especially in the sensitive post-terror environment. The move reflects India’s sharpened focus on cyber sovereignty, accountability of tech platforms, and the increasingly blurred line between free speech and threats to public order in the digital age.