Abhishek Banerjee Questions Govt’s Response on Takedown Notices

Quick Summary

• Trinamool Congress (TMC) General secretary and Lok Sabha MP, Abhishek Banerjee, expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s response to his parliamentary query regarding takedown notices issued to social media platforms.
• Writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Banerjee stated that the reply given by Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Jitin Prasada, was “not satisfactory.”
• Banerjee had sought detailed facts on:

a) The number of takedown notices submitted in the past three years by various ministries;
b) A comprehensive list specifying dates, reasons for issuance, and outcomes;
c) Measures taken to review these actions’ impact;
d) Assurance that such measures align with constitutional protections of free speech.

• In his written reply,Jitin Prasada stated that takedown notices are sent directly by Central or State governments or their authorized agencies under provisions outlined in the Constitution’s Seventh Schedule but did not provide specific data as requested.

!Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee

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Indian Opinion Analysis
Abhishek Banerjee’s concerns reflect broader questions about clarity and accountability in government dialog regarding takedown requests to social media platforms. His demand for detailed data underscores the necessity of balancing national security or public order considerations with protecting freedom of speech as enshrined in India’s Constitution. While Jitin Prasada’s response adheres procedurally by citing constitutional provisions allowing such actions by central or state authorities, it falls short on specifics regarding oversight mechanisms.

From a governance outlook, tracking and evaluating impacts objectively can boost public trust while ensuring compliance with democratic norms like free speech-even when engaging private technology platforms.Greater transparency in disclosing statistics behind regulatory actions could also inspire more confidence both within India and internationally about how India manages digital freedoms alongside lawful oversight.