The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has raised concerns over notices allegedly sent by the Delhi Police to Meta seeking identifying information of social
media creators who posted about the Jantar Mantar protests, while also alleging that protest-related content continues to be restricted or removed from Instagram. In a statement, IFF said several content creators had approached the organisation after receiving emails from Meta stating that the company had received a “valid legal process” seeking information about their Facebook accounts. According to IFF, the emails said the information sought could include basic identifying details associated with the accounts, but did not specify the provision under which the request was made, the FIR involved, the alleged offence or the officer who issued the request. IFF said the alleged requests came amid a broader series of content removals and restrictions relating to the Jantar Mantar protests. It claimed that several posts and reels uploaded by students, journalists, activists and independent creators had been restricted or removed by Instagram, with notices citing legal requirements or provisions of Indian law. The organisation also alleged that some accounts had been withheld entirely in India. The digital rights organisation cited examples involving creators and media outlets, including restrictions on videos documenting police action at the protests, alleged injuries to protesters and other protest-related material. IFF further alleged that Delhi Police had earlier sought information from X regarding accounts that it claimed had posted “derogatory, malicious and defamatory” material about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The organisation said the latest requests for creator identities raised concerns because the notices received from Meta did not, according to IFF, provide sufficient details about the legal basis for the requests. The organisation also questioned the legal basis of any investigation linked to the protests, citing the Supreme Court's September 1, 2026 order quashing 13 FIRs registered in Delhi in connection with the July 20-25 protests. IFF said the Supreme Court had directed that other FIRs concerning the same incidents should not be pursued or investigated, subject to the terms of its order. IFF has called on the Delhi Police to withdraw notices seeking the identities or subscriber details of people in connection with protest-related content and disclose the FIR, legal provision and officer under whose authority each notice was issued. It has also urged the Ministry of Home Affairs and MeitY to publish notices issued concerning protest-related content and asked Meta to provide affected users with copies of the legal process it received. The organisation has additionally called for the restoration of protest-related posts, reels and accounts that it says were wrongly restricted, and for greater transparency from Meta over government requests for content removals and user data. Times Now Digital was not able to independently verify the claims made by the Internet Freedom Foundation regarding the notices, content restrictions or the legal basis of the alleged requests.
