Key facts
- Meta platforms have been restricting the reach of cartoons for years, according to Satish Acharya.
- Meta stated it may temporarily restrict accounts to comply with India's IT Rules.
- Government agencies sent nearly 195,000 blocking and content-restriction orders to platforms like Instagram between March and July.
- India ranks 157th in Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index.
Indian cartoonists Satish Acharya and Manjul have recently faced restrictions on their Instagram accounts, sparking concerns about the use of legal orders to limit political satire in India. Acharya's profile was blocked in India for periods in late September and mid-October, with users seeing a message about compliance with India's Information Technology Rules. Meta, Instagram's parent company, stated it may temporarily restrict accounts to comply with these rules but did not provide specific reasons for the blocks. These incidents occur as humor and satire play a growing role in political dissent in India, particularly online.