The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (IT) has adopted a strict stance on the issue of bomb threats being received continuously on planes. The ministry has warned social media companies that if they do not immediately remove such false information, the immunity given to them will be cancelled. The ministry said that such information will have to be removed immediately and this information will also have to be given to the concerned authorities.
Government warned
You can gauge the seriousness of this matter from the fact that recently the government had also held a meeting with the officials of social media companies. On October 22, a meeting was held with officials of social media companies like X, Meta, Google and Telegram. In this, the officials were asked to immediately share the information about the account sending the threat with the security officials. Sanket Bhondve, Joint Secretary, IT Ministry, specifically warned the officials of ‘X’ and said that if they do not do so, action can be taken against the company.
What does the rule say?
Under the Indian Civil Code (BNSS), the respective intermediaries are under the obligation to mandatorily report any crimes committed by any users of their platforms, including those that threaten the unity, integrity, sovereignty, security or economic security of India. Any act done with intent to commit. Apart from this, the IT Rules, 2021 also compel the intermediaries to provide information or provide assistance to the government agency.
Government’s action after more than 250 threats
In the last 11 days, about 250 flights of Indian airlines have received bomb threats. This week, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said the government was planning to take legislative action to deal with the threat of bomb threats to airlines.
The government is taking fake bomb threat messages and phone calls seriously. The government has started identifying those who made threats. According to sources, the government has appealed to the top multinational tech companies to cooperate in identifying the people behind such fake calls, calling such cases related to public interest.
Government is in rapid action mode
The central government has doubled the number of air marshals in flights from October 16. Then the Home Minister had sought a report from the Aviation Ministry regarding fake threats. Also, on October 9, a meeting was held with the CEOs of all the airlines, in which dealing with false threats was discussed. Apart from this, inconvenience to passengers and losses to airlines were also discussed. On October 19, the Center removed DGCA Chief Vikram Dev Dutt from the post and made him Secretary in the Coal Ministry.
