Between March and July this year, the government sent approximately 1.95 lakh blocking orders to Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, according to data accessed by The Indian Express. That translates to roughly 1,275 orders a day, or one every 68 seconds. Between October 2024 and October 2025, by comparison, a total of 2,312 blocking orders were sent to 19 platforms through the Sahyog portal, averaging six a day. The surge represents a more than 200-fold increase over the previously recorded daily rate.
Instagram received the largest share at nearly one lakh orders, just over half the total. Facebook received around 80,000 and YouTube about 15,000. Meta-owned platforms accounted for nine out of every ten orders issued to the three companies. Each blocking order can cover hundreds of individual pieces of content or accounts.
The five-month period coincided with student protests against exam leaks at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, which began in early June and ended on July 25 with the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. A senior government official said a “considerable share” of the orders were issued as the protests gathered momentum, particularly on Instagram. Targeted content reportedly included posts supporting the protests, criticism of the government’s ethanol fuel blending policy, and material related to the West Bengal elections. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said some of his Instagram posts were blocked in India.
To comply with the government’s three-hour takedown deadline, Meta has integrated its API with the Home Ministry’s Sahyog portal. Content flagged through government orders is now automatically removed from Meta’s platforms without a separate human review. The three-hour window was introduced in February this year, replacing the previous timeline of 24 to 36 hours. The automation eliminates the room for Meta to review or contest any takedown directive before complying.
