Instagram restores LiveLaw video in India following access restriction

Instagram has restored a video published by legal news outlet LiveLaw that had been hidden from users in India. The video provided an explanation of an affidavit filed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) before the Supreme Court regarding electoral roll revisions.

When the content was initially blocked, Instagram cited a "legal request" but failed to disclose the identity of the requester, the nature of the order, or the specific legal provision involved. LiveLaw noted that the content was strictly informational and remained available on other platforms, such as YouTube, throughout the period of restriction.

The case underscores ongoing concerns regarding the transparency of platform-led content moderation in India. Under the Information Technology Act, tech intermediaries are often subject to blocking orders, but the lack of specific citations in this instance has prevented external parties from determining the legal basis of the restriction. Instagram restored the content on October 27, 2026, without issuing a public explanation for the reversal.