Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi has called for an investigation into Instagram’s alleged misuse of its grievance mechanisms to suppress political criticism of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.
Letter to Union IT Minister
Kanimozhi wrote to Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, highlighting concerns that Instagram accounts and posts critical of the C.Joseph Vijay-led government are being “restricted, taken down and subjected to reduced visibility.” She raised questions about whether state police and resources are being misused to limit lawful political criticism.
Complaints and FIR Issues
The MP pointed out that complaints filed through grievance mechanisms were often ignored, and police refused to register FIRs in many instances. She urged the ministry to seek information from Meta to ensure enforcement remains politically neutral and follows principles of transparency and due process.
DMK Leadership Voices Concern
DMK’s IT wing secretary T.R.B. Rajaa also flagged the issue earlier, stating multiple Instagram accounts were facing restrictions after posting criticism of the TVK government. He described this as an abuse of power and noted that DMK’s legal wing is closely scrutinizing the matter.
Social Media Users Highlight Restrictions
Several X users noted that news articles related to SIR deletions and TVK’s electoral performance had also been restricted in India, intensifying concerns about suppression of information.
Legal Background and Call for Transparency
Kanimozhi referred to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, emphasizing these grievance mechanisms must not be weaponised to silence dissent. She recalled DMK’s pending writ petition against digital intermediaries over alleged fake news allowed by TVK supporters. Meanwhile, genuine criticism of the TVK government appears to be removed, which she called an “inherent bias.”
Defending Democratic Rights
Kanimozhi stressed democracy requires the right to criticize those in power. She stated that no government or party should fear legitimate criticism, and citizens should not lose their digital voice for exercising this right.
