Meta Restricts Indian Cartoonists' Accounts Under New IT Rules

Meta temporarily blocked the Instagram account of Indian cartoonist Satish Acharya for a second time in three weeks. The 55-year-old artist discovered on Tuesday that his profile was inaccessible to users in India. He reports that the platform provided no specific explanation for the restriction. This follows a similar incident affecting another cartoonist, Manjul, whose post criticizing the election commission was restricted earlier this month.

Acharya's account was first inaccessible from September 28 to October 6. During that period, Indian users could not find his profile through search or access it via direct web links. A message stated that the profile was unavailable under India's Information Technology Rules. These rules allow authorities and courts to order platforms to remove or restrict content. The government cites the rules as a tool to tackle unlawful material, while artists warn they stifle political satire.

Acharya told the BBC that Meta platforms have limited the reach of his cartoons for years. He noted that being entirely restricted was a different experience. "I was a little sad," he said. He wrote to Meta, the parent company of Instagram, but received no reply. He prepared to take legal action when the account became accessible in early October. It was blocked again earlier this week for three days.

In a statement, Meta said it may temporarily restrict accounts to comply with India's IT Rules. The company did not explain the specific reasons for restricting Acharya's account or Manjul's post. Technology policy expert Prateek Waghre stated that some platforms, particularly Meta, appear more willing to comply with government requests. He noted that X appears more willing to push back, though limited public data makes comparisons difficult. Meta declined to comment on his assessment.

The Indian Express reported that government agencies sent nearly 195,000 blocking and content-restriction orders to platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube between March and July. These figures were obtained through a right-to-information request. The data does not show how many posts were ultimately restricted or removed. The BBC has not seen the original response to the request.

Critics say the restrictions coincide with a rise in political dissent driven by humor and satire. Memes helped fuel protests over education and jobs in July, leading to the resignation of India's education minister. Online debate has also intensified over a revision of voter rolls that removed 130 million names. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party has urged ministers to strengthen their online presence to connect with younger audiences.

Authorities reportedly asked Meta to ensure its systems do not steer users toward a single or limited set of narratives. They also requested stronger checks on content that could cause public disorder or incite violence. The BBC sought comment from India's IT ministry on these instructions and the recent restrictions but has not received a response.

Cartoonists argue that challenging power is central to their work. Sandeep Adhwaryu, a cartoonist at a leading Indian newspaper, said artists must question whoever holds power. "The nature of the craft is to oppose," he said. Acharya noted that before 2014, his cartoons targeted the Congress-led government and were shared by BJP leaders. He said he never faced official restrictions during those years, though there was occasional trolling. Now, with the BJP in power, his satire targets Modi's government.

Independent creators rely on social media to reach audiences without traditional outlets. Manjul said that not being associated with newspapers allows them to draw freely. However, this dependence creates vulnerability to platform restrictions. Rachita Taneja, creator of the Instagram comic Sanitary Panels, described social media as a double-edged sword. "At the end of the day it's a for-profit endeavour that answers to advertisers," she said. She believes Meta's compliance reflects commercial priorities rather than concern for user rights.

Even artists in traditional newsrooms face pressure. Adhwaryu said artists may soften captions or avoid certain subjects. He noted that such self-censorship can become normalized over time. When Acharya's account was first restricted, Taneja drew a stick-figure cartoon in solidarity. Adhwaryu compared satire to a shape-shifting virus that mutates in response to its environment.