The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has once again invoked emergency powers under the Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2021 to block online content. "Apps, website, and social media accounts of foreign-based “Punjab Politics TV” having close links with Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), an organization that has been declared unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967" were blocked through a MIB order on February 18, according to a press release. The decision was taken on the basis of intelligence inputs that the entity was attempting to disrupt public order before the State assembly elections and hosted content that promoted separatism, communal disharmony, etc., the press release said. Emergency provisions under Rules 6 allow the government to order a complete ban on certain online content, without giving the intermediaries or publishers of such content a chance to be heard. The IT Rules have been widely criticised by social media intermediaries, news media organisations, and civil society for increasing government control over online content. What other content has been blocked? Besides the apps and website of Punjab Politics, the press release also provided screenshots of their YouTube and Instagram accounts as blocked. Punjab Politics TV has 434 subscribers on YouTube, and it goes by the username 'PoliticspunjabTV' on Instagram. At the time of publishing this report, MediaNama could not access both of these accounts. Emergency provisions of the IT Rules The emergency provisions of the rules have been invoked before to block: 20 YouTube channels and two news websites in December 2021; 35 YouTube news…
