India Urges Social Media to Combat Hoax Bomb Threats Amid Aviation Disruptions
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology warns social media platforms of liability if they fail to remove and report false bomb threats affecting public safety.
- Indian airlines have faced over 300 hoax bomb threats, causing significant disruptions and financial losses during a peak travel period.
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued an advisory to social media companies, emphasizing their responsibility to remove such threats promptly.
- Platforms like X/Twitter, Meta, Google, and Telegram have been instructed to share user data related to these threats with authorities within 72 hours.
- The aviation sector's response includes emergency landings and increased security measures, with flights being rerouted and escorted by military jets in some cases.
- Authorities are considering legal amendments to deter hoax threats, including placing perpetrators on a no-fly list and criminalizing the act as a cognizable offense.