NEW DELHI: Govt has issued a strict advisory to social media companies such as X and Meta, warning them to take immediate action to curb the spread of hoax bomb threats targeting flights or face criminal and penal consequences under BNS and IT Act.
Over the past two weeks, nearly 400 flights operated by Indian carriers have received threat messages through social media and emails, disrupting schedules, causing flight diversions, and inflicting financial losses on airlines. Some international flights operated by foreign carriers were also affected.
The warning signals govt’s intent to crack down on the misuse of social media platforms to prevent further disruptions to the aviation sector.
The ministry of electronics and IT said Friday: “The scale of spread of such hoax bomb threats has been observed to be dangerously unrestrained due to the availability of the option of ‘forwarding/re-sharing/re-posting/re-tweeting’ on the social media platforms. Such hoax bomb threats are mostly misinformation that is massively disrupting public order, operations of airlines, and the security of airline travellers.”
The advisory directed social media intermediaries to “observe their due diligence obligations that include the prompt removal or disabling access to such unlawful information specified under the IT Rules, 2021, including hoax bomb threats, well within the strict timelines as prescribed under the IT Rules, 2021”.
Beyond compliance with IT rules, govt reminded platforms that they also bear additional responsibilities under BNSS. This includes the obligation to report offences that involve threats to the unity, integrity, sovereignty or economic security of India.
Failure to comply, the advisory warned, would result in the loss of the “safe harbour” protection granted to intermediaries under Section 79 of IT Act, which shields them from liability for third-party content. The advisory further cautioned that intermediaries failing to meet these obligations wold be subject to legal action under applicable laws.
The ministry highlighted the economic impact of the threats: “Airlines have lost hundreds of crores because of this nuisance.” It also highlighted the broader threat: “Such hoax bomb threats, while affecting a large number of citizens, also destabilise the economic security of the country.”