Government Advises Social Media Firms on Unlawful Posts Amidst ECI Protests

The Indian government issued an advisory to social media companies around October 9, 2026, instructing them to promptly address "unlawful posts" concerning ongoing protests against the Election Commission of India (ECI). These protests, which commenced in late September 2026 in cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, are led by opposition parties and youth movements like the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Protesters are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and significant changes to the ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The protests stem from allegations by opposition parties, including the CJP, that the SIR has resulted in the deletion of over 130 million voters, potentially benefiting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The SIR began in Bihar in June 2025 and expanded nationwide. An investigation in September 2026 reported that two other election commissioners had objected to CEC Gyanesh Kumar's decisions regarding the SIR. The INDIA bloc announced nationwide protests, including a march to ECI headquarters on October 6 and district rallies from October 2-8, with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi briefly detained during a New Delhi protest on October 7, 2026.