Nearly 3 lakh URLs ordered removed, states submit most takedown requests
Government departments sent close to 3 lakh URLs to platforms for removal between March and July 2026, with state agencies responsible for 82% of the requests.
Between March and July 2026, government bodies submitted 2.98 lakh URLs to online platforms for removal, according to the PIB Fact Check unit. State authorities generated the bulk of the takedown orders, representing 82% of the overall figure. The unit also addressed circulating stories that Meta had deployed automated blocking to satisfy a three-hour takedown mandate, describing those reports as inaccurate and clarifying that the API link with Meta was established in 2025 at Meta's initiative.
Earlier articles had linked a rise in content blocks to the Delhi protests, but the current figures reflect broader government action across multiple states. The PIB Fact Check unit emphasized that the takedown numbers stem from official requests rather than platform-initiated actions.
Why it matters
It shows how Indian authorities are using large-scale URL takedown requests to control online content.
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