Delhi Cracks Down on Fake Bomb Threats in Flights, Social Media Giants Warned

NEW DELHI – In response to the recent surge in fake bomb threats targeting flights, the Indian government has taken a firm stance, warning social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter) and Meta, to address this serious issue. The surge in fake threats has caused significant disruptions for passengers, with many of these threats spreading through social media, prompting heightened government scrutiny.

Government's Warning to Social Media Platforms A high-level meeting, led by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, saw representatives from X and Meta being reprimanded for their platforms’ role in the spread of fake bomb threats. Sanket S. Bhondve, Joint Secretary of the Ministry, expressed concern during the meeting, stressing the need for these companies to prevent the dissemination of such false information. He noted that allowing these threats to spread was akin to “promoting crime,” emphasizing that the issue must be addressed with utmost seriousness.

Aviation Minister's Firm Message Union Minister of Civil Aviation K. Ramamohan Naidu, in a briefing earlier this week, emphasized that the government would take strict action against individuals responsible for these hoaxes. Naidu also revealed that those found guilty of spreading such rumors could face penalties, including being added to a no-fly list. The minister highlighted the need for amendments to aviation security protocols, aiming to strengthen legal actions against perpetrators.

Changes to the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) Protocol In light of the growing issue, the government has made modifications to the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) protocol. These changes are designed to provide aviation companies with better tools to combat threats originating from the internet. Just this week, flights at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Pune, Bengaluru, and Kozhikode received bomb threats, all of which were later dismissed as hoaxes.

The government's warning to social media platforms underscores its commitment to safeguarding aviation security and ensuring stricter oversight of digital platforms that can potentially fuel public panic through false information.

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