A PIL has been filed in Delhi HC demanding a SIT investigation into the cyber-extortion racket running on Instagram. The petition alleges that accounts are closed through fake copyright complaints and money is collected to restart them.
New Delhi [भारत]July 15 (ANI): A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court, seeking formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe an organized cyber-extortion racket. It is alleged that this racket misuses the copyright enforcement mechanism of Instagram to close the accounts of users and then allegedly extorts money from content creators to reinstate them.
The petition, filed by Nitin Joshi, came up before a division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia on Wednesday. Justice Karia recused himself from hearing the case, following which Chief Justice Upadhyay directed the matter to be listed before another bench on July 28, 2026.
What is the whole matter?
According to the petition, the alleged racket involved filing fabricated copyright infringement complaints through bot-powered accounts and organized syndicates, resulting in the suspension or removal of legitimate Instagram accounts without any prior notice, independent verification or meaningful human review. The petitioner claims that the creators are then allegedly contacted and asked to pay large sums of money to withdraw the copyright complaints or restore their accounts.
Demand for SIT investigation in the petition
Among its key demands, the PIL has sought a direction to the Home Ministry to constitute a Coordinated Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged organized cyber-extortion network and take action on the representations made by the petitioner. It also seeks directions to preserve digital evidence including IP logs, cryptocurrency wallet addresses, payment details and account metadata, trace domestic and cross-border criminals, investigate financial transactions of alleged extortion proceeds and prosecute those found responsible.
Challenge given to IT rules
The plea also challenges Rule 3(1)(c) and Rule 4 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, as they allegedly allow deactivation of user accounts without prior notice, disclosure of the identity of the complainant, verification of copyright ownership or an orderly and proportionate response. Alternatively, it seeks a direction to the Central government to amend the rules or frame a binding standard operating procedure (SOP) that includes safeguards such as prior notice, mandatory human review, disclosure of the identity of the complainant, proportionate action and a fast-track counter-notice mechanism.
Demand to give instructions for Meta also
The petitioner has also sought a direction to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to require important social media intermediaries, including Meta Platforms Inc., to file transparency reports from time to time, disclosing the number of repeat complaints and copyright takedowns, so that organized abuse can be detected early. Further, the PIL seeks to direct Meta to restore the posts of suspended, deleted or disabled Instagram accounts and similar creators pending re-examination of human review of the copyright strike. It also calls for mandatory human review before any automated copyright-strike action resulting in suspension or deletion of accounts, issuance of prior notice, and an opportunity to be heard before enforcement action.
Demand for forensic audit and fast-track mechanism
The petition also seeks a forensic audit of Instagram’s automated copyright-strike system to find out how fraudulent copyright complaints are allegedly being generated and whether there is any nexus between such complaints and persons allegedly demanding payment for restoration of accounts. It also demands the establishment of a dedicated fast-track grievance redressal mechanism for complaints of alleged extortion related to copyright strikes.
Demand for immediate relief
As an interim measure, the petitioner has sought an order to restrain Meta from suspending, removing or disabling the Instagram accounts of similarly situated creators without prior notice and human review, while directing restoration of already suspended or removed accounts pending disposal of the PIL.
‘Arbitrary suspension poses a threat to livelihood’
The plea argues that digital platforms have become a primary source of livelihood, business and professional identity for millions of Indians and arbitrary deactivation of accounts causes immediate and irreparable financial and reputational loss. It further alleges that despite representations being submitted to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Law and Justice and police authorities on July 9, 2026, no effective institutional response has been given to stop the alleged misuse of the copyright reporting mechanism. (ANI)
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