In India, Meta has blocked access to the Instagram page "@Muslim," a prominent Muslim news outlet with 6.7 million followers, following a legal request from the Indian government. This action has ignited a debate over censorship, freedom of the press, and potential bias on social media platforms.
The account's founder, Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh, condemned the ban as "censorship". Users in India attempting to access the @Muslim page are met with a message stating, "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content". Al-Khatahtbeh stated that he received numerous messages from Indian followers reporting their inability to access the account. He emphasized the platform's mission to build community, share information about Islam, and report on stories affecting the Muslim community, vowing to continue documenting the truth and holding those in power accountable. He has also called on Meta to reinstate the account in India.
Meta has declined to comment on the specific case but pointed to its policy of restricting content that violates local laws. This action occurs amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, intensifying discussions about media freedom, religious identity, and political expression in the digital sphere.
The blocking of @Muslim is not an isolated incident. India has also blocked social media accounts of Pakistani politicians, celebrities, and media organizations. Additionally, over a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels have been banned for allegedly spreading "provocative" content. X (formerly Twitter) has also been ordered by the Indian government to block over 8,000 accounts. These actions are viewed as part of a broader crackdown targeting social media amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
These recent events have sparked concerns about the state of press freedom in India. India's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index 2025 is 151 out of 180 countries. While this is a slight improvement from previous years, it still places India in the "very serious" category, indicating a troubling trend in media freedom and independence. The report also raises concerns about the concentration of media ownership in the hands of political figures. Factors contributing to India's low ranking include violence against journalists, increasing political polarization, and the rise of "Godi media" (media outlets perceived as biased in favor of the government). The legal environment for the press has also become increasingly hostile, with defamation laws, sedition charges, and other acts being used to curb media freedom, leading to self-censorship.
Furthermore, there have been long-standing concerns regarding Meta's content moderation practices in India. Meta's own internal assessment in 2019 did not address the issue of bias in content moderation, despite repeated allegations from civil society groups. Some reports suggest that Facebook has failed to remove anti-Muslim content and has been accused of bias against right-wing content. A recent study indicated that social media platforms like Facebook are responsible for a significant portion of misinformation cases in India.
The blocking of the @Muslim account and the broader trend of censorship raise questions about the role and responsibility of social media platforms in upholding freedom of expression while adhering to local laws. Critics argue that complying with government requests to restrict content can lead to censorship and the suppression of dissenting voices. Platforms are urged to be transparent and resist pressures that undermine fundamental rights.
