Indian cartoonist faces second Instagram block in three weeks

Indian users encountered access issues on Instagram this week after the platform blocked cartoonist Satish Acharya for the second time in three weeks. The 55-year-old artist discovered on Tuesday that his profile was temporarily unavailable in India, a restriction that lasted for three days. Users attempting to view his account saw a message stating it was unavailable under India's Information Technology Rules. Acharya noted that he received no explanation from the platform for the sudden block.

This incident follows a similar restriction on another cartoonist, Manjul, earlier this month. Instagram limited the reach of one of Manjul's posts, which criticized the Election Commission of India over its revision of voter rolls. The revision removed 130 million names from the electoral database, a move that sparked online debate. Acharya’s account was previously restricted from September 28 to October 6. During that initial period, users in India could not find his profile through search or direct links. He stated that he was preparing to take legal action when the account was restored in early October, only to be blocked again this week.

The restrictions are part of a larger wave of government orders sent to social media companies. According to data obtained through a right-to-information request, Indian government agencies issued nearly 195,000 blocking and content-restriction orders between March and July. These orders were sent to platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube via the federal Sahyog portal. The figures do not specify how many posts were ultimately removed, and the BBC has not seen the original government response to the request.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, confirmed in a statement that it may temporarily restrict accounts to comply with India's IT Rules. However, the company did not provide specific reasons for restricting Acharya's account or Manjul's post. Technology policy expert Prateek Waghre observed that Meta appears more willing to comply with these legal orders than other platforms like X. Meta declined to comment on Waghre's assessment. The government has also reportedly instructed Meta to ensure its recommendation systems do not steer users toward limited narratives and to strengthen checks on content that could cause public disorder.

The use of legal orders to manage online content has intensified as political satire gains prominence. Memes and social media humor played a role in the July protests over education and jobs, which contributed to the resignation of India's education minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party has encouraged ministers to strengthen their online presence to connect with younger audiences. Critics argue that the current regulatory environment pressures independent creators who rely on platforms for distribution rather than traditional media outlets.

Cartoonists describe the situation as a shift in how they operate. Sandeep Adhwaryu, a cartoonist at a leading Indian newspaper, said that artists often soften captions or avoid certain subjects to avoid friction. He noted that self-censorship can become normalized over time. Acharya added that he has never faced official restrictions during previous governments, though his work is now frequently shared by opposition leaders. He said he wrote to Meta but received no reply before his account was restored in early October.

Rachita Taneja, a popular Instagram comic creator, described social media as a double-edged sword. She stated that her career depends on the internet but that platforms are for-profit ventures that answer to advertisers. Taneja believes Meta's compliance reflects commercial priorities rather than a focus on user rights. Adhwaryu compared political satire to a shape-shifting virus that mutates in response to its environment. He said the genre will find a way to persist despite these new digital constraints.

The BBC sought comment from India's IT ministry regarding the recent restrictions and instructions to Meta but did not receive a response. Acharya remains accessible on Instagram as of late October, though he says the repeated blocks create uncertainty for independent creators who have built audiences without institutional backing.