Meta blocked Indian MP's Facebook page after law enforcement notice

Meta has informed the Delhi High Court that it blocked the Facebook page of Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi after receiving a notice from a law enforcement agency. The page has remained blocked in India since March 3, 2026.

The case presents a stark contrast to statements made by ruling party MPs in 2021, when Twitter permanently suspended then-US President Donald Trump's account. At the time, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya criticized the ban, warning it was a threat to democracies and that "if they can do this to POTUS, they can do this to anyone." He emphasized freedom of expression should not be arbitrarily curtailed by private tech companies.

Now, five years later, the situation has reversed. MP Mehdi has challenged the blocking of his page in the Delhi High Court, arguing he was not informed about specific content violations and was not given an opportunity to respond. Mehdi and his lawyers contend that blocking the entire page without identifying unlawful content violates his fundamental rights.

Meta told the court the page was taken down pursuant to a law enforcement notice and has sought time to submit the notice. The court has issued notices to Meta and relevant ministries. Mehdi did not receive interim relief, and the matter is scheduled for further hearing on September 30.

This development follows the Indian government's tightening of its IT Rules in February 2026. The amendments brought synthetic media, including deepfakes, under the rules and significantly reduced platform response timelines for action on complaints or notices, allowing less time for content assessment.