The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a stern advisory to social media platforms, demanding they take immediate action to prevent the spread of hoax bomb threat messages. With over 250 recent false alarms affecting flights from major airlines like Air India, IndiGo, Vistara, and SpiceJet, the warnings emphasize the disruptive and potentially dangerous effects on India’s domestic aviation industry. These hoaxes are not only impacting airlines but have also targeted schools, hotels, and other public establishments, causing widespread security concerns and necessitating urgent responses from law enforcement agencies and airport security teams.
In an official statement, MeitY highlighted that such hoaxes threaten public order, as well as the economic stability and security of the state, as they divert critical resources away from other safety measures. Social media’s sharing, reposting, and forwarding features are seen as contributing to the unchecked spread of these hoaxes, allowing misinformation to reach a broad audience at a rapid pace. The ministry has warned that non-compliance with IT Rules could result in platforms losing their "safe harbor" protections under the Information Technology Act, which currently shields them from legal liability for third-party content. By removing this protection, platforms could be held directly accountable for failing to address harmful and misleading content promptly.
The advisory further mandates that social media platforms provide law enforcement agencies with relevant information within 72 hours when bomb threats are posted. This includes details that could aid in identifying the sources of such misinformation, whether for investigative, protective, or cyber security purposes. MeitY reiterated that the IT Rules, 2021, obligate platforms to offer support to government agencies for the purposes of investigation, identity verification, cyber security activities, and more, all within the stipulated time frame.
This surge in hoax bomb threats has forced heightened security measures at airports across India. Just recently, officials in Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, and Jharsuguda had to respond to threats concerning specific flights, leading to increased security screenings and precautionary measures such as moving certain planes to isolation bays for thorough checks. Though these alarms turned out to be false, they caused significant delays and operational disruptions, underlining the impact of these hoaxes on the country’s aviation sector and security framework.
