Key Points
- The government criticized Meta and X for not sharing user information on bomb hoaxes.
- Officials saw the platforms’ inaction as being complicit in the crime.
- A virtual meeting took place with airlines and social media reps.
- Indian airlines reported over 100 hoax bomb threats recently.
- Many threats came from accounts made with VPNs, making investigations tougher.
Looma News
The government has taken a firm stance against social media platforms Meta and X for not sharing information about accounts linked to recent bomb hoax threats targeting flights. Officials accused these companies of mishandling the situation, suggesting that their inaction could be seen as helping the criminals.
A senior official from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) held a virtual meeting with representatives from the affected airlines and the two platforms. During this meeting, Meta and X were reprimanded for not quickly sharing details about the bomb threats.
Sources said the platforms were hesitant to disclose information about users behind the false threats. The government official stressed the need for quick actions to identify and catch the culprits and repeat offenders.
Both companies reportedly showed a willingness to help but pointed out they could only do so through the proper legal channels. An official clarified that the Home Ministry and IT Ministry can request such details under specific rules.
In the past week, Indian airlines faced over 100 hoax bomb threats, causing major hassle for passengers and financial losses for the airlines. Many threats came from accounts on X that were set up using VPNs or dark web browsers, making it hard for investigators to track them down.
As a result, the Delhi Police have opened eight cases related to these bomb threats. The threat messages were posted anonymously on X and later removed by authorities. Investigators have struggled to trace the people behind these fake accounts, making it even harder to resolve the issue.
