Centre Orders Meta, X To Share Data On Flight Bombing Threats

Continuing the crackdown on hoax bomb threats targeting Indian airlines, the Centre has reportedly asked social media platforms Meta and X to share the data of the people behind these threats.

The government has also asked other multinational technology conglomerates to help find the perpetrators being the hoax threats, news agency PTI reported citing sources. 

“The government has told social media companies Meta and X to share data pertaining to such hoax calls and messages made on their platforms targeting several airlines and asked them to cooperate,” a senior government official was quoted as saying. 

The report added that the Centre has been successful in tracing some of the people behind the said bomb threats and is undertaking action against them. 

Over the last few days, more than 150 flights operated by Indian airlines received bomb threats, leading to diversion of many flights.

As per reports, about 50 flights of airlines like IndiGo and Air India were at the receiving end of such threats on Wednesday (October 23). 

Amid these, Sanket S Bhondve, joint secretary in the IT ministry, held a virtual meeting with airline representatives and social media platforms on Wednesday. 

While the government is seeking help from the social media platforms to fight cybercrimes, such attempts in the past have been a point of contention.

Earlier this year, X expressed disagreement with the Election Commission of India’s takedown order for certain posts pertaining to the general elections. X also went to court against the government’s takedown orders pertaining to farmers’ protest.

However, not cooperating with the government has also led to potential blocking for certain platforms. Earlier this year in February, the IT ministry issued an order to block  end-to-end encrypted email service ProtonMail at the request of the Tamil Nadu police over a hoax bomb threat sent to at least 13 private schools in Chennai. Later in April, it was reported that the said blocking of services was withdrawn on Swiss authorities intervention.

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