Must take action on airline bomb threats, IT Department tells social media
Amid the incessant threats of airline bombs through global internet platforms, the Center on Saturday directed social media consultants like Elon Musk-headed X and Meta to ensure due diligence and immediately remove false information that affects public order and national security.
In an advisory, the IT Department said that these fake bomb threats are mostly false information that seriously disrupts public order, flight operations and the safety of air travelers.
Indian airlines have received more than 100 hoax bomb threats in a few days, forcing delays and emergency landings.
“Given the critical situation, the Ministry of Technology and Technology reminds emphatically that all mediators, including communications mediators, must make reasonable efforts to reject these evil practices including the distribution of deceptive bombs to be distributed in their fields,” reads the advice.
The advisory also said that intermediaries including social media intermediaries must respect their due diligence obligations which include the immediate removal or disabling of access to illegal information specified under the IT Rules, 2021, including fake bomb threats, within strict periods as determined below. IT Rules, 2021.
Apart from removing or disabling access to such false information under the IT Rules, 2021 as part of reasonable efforts to be made, “there is an additional obligation on the concerned communicators under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) to formally report certain offences. suspected of being committed by any user of their platform including, inter alia, any act with intent to threaten or may threaten the unity, integrity, sovereignty, security, or economic security of India”.
Amid increasing threats of bomb blasts, Transport Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has expressed grave concern, saying the government is committed to taking strict action against those who commit such heinous acts.
On Friday, more than 20 planes of various airlines were reported to have received bomb threats.
“Given the critical situation, the Ministry of Technology and Information Technology reminds emphatically that all intermediaries including telecommunication intermediaries must make reasonable efforts not to allow these evil acts including fake bomb threats to be distributed on their platforms,” IT. The Department said.
In this regard, intermediaries including social media intermediaries must respect their due diligence obligations which include the immediate removal or disabling of access to such illegal information as specified under the IT Rules, 2021, including fake bomb threats, within strict periods as set out under the IT Rules, 2021, the ministry said. .
