NEW DELHI: The number of Twitter URLs blocked by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has increased in recent years, according to information presented to Parliament on Wednesday.

A total of 1,122 Twitter URLs were blocked until June 2022, up from 225 in 2018, 588 in 2017, 194 in 2016, 15 in 2015, and 8 in 2014, said the Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

According to Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act of 2000, the Ministry has the authority to block information in any computer resource in the interest of India's sovereignty and integrity, defence, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order, or to prevent incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to the foregoing.

He noted that when it comes to information blocking, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology follows the procedure outlined in the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Public Access to Information) Rules, 2009.

In accordance with the government's goal of providing an open, safe, trusted, and accountable Internet for all of its users, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued instructions to Twitter to restrict URLs and accounts in accordance with Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000. 

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