In just five months, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued 130 censorship orders through its Sahyog portal, according to official data recently made public. The portal, introduced to streamline inter-agency coordination and manage online content flagged as a threat to public order or national security, has become a key tool for digital content regulation in India.
Launched as part of the government’s broader push for digital governance, the Sahyog portal allows various government departments to raise requests for action against online content, which can include takedown notices, restrictions, or blocking orders. Between November 2024 and March 2025, 130 such orders were processed, sparking concerns from digital rights advocates about transparency and overreach.
While officials argue the platform enhances responsiveness and ensures prompt action against misinformation and harmful content, critics say the opaque nature of the decision-making process raises questions about accountability and due process.
“This increase in censorship orders highlights the growing role of executive decisions in determining what can and cannot be seen online,” said a digital rights activist, requesting anonymity. “Without public oversight, there's a risk of misuse.”
The nature of the censored content has not been disclosed, and no public list of affected platforms or creators is available. This lack of disclosure has fueled further debate over the balance between national security and freedom of expression in India’s rapidly evolving digital space.
As internet usage surges across the country, legal and civil society experts are calling for clearer guidelines, transparency mechanisms, and independent review processes to ensure censorship tools are not misused or politicized.
The Ministry has not responded to queries regarding the criteria used for these orders or whether any appeals were filed or upheld.
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