HRF asks Meta to explain restrictions on account opposing Vizag data centres

The Human Rights Forum has condemned restrictions placed on its Instagram account, which is being used for the “Stop Vizag Data Centers” campaign, and has asked Meta to explain why the account was curbed. The forum says posts by HRF were restricted, as were posts connected to an investigative documentary. It has sought the name of the authority that requested the action and the legal basis on which the restrictions were imposed.

The demand places the focus on the process behind the restrictions rather than only on the content of the campaign. HRF is seeking disclosure of whether an authority asked for the account or posts to be blocked, and what rule or law was cited. The available information does not identify the specific posts affected, state how long the restrictions have been in place, or include a response from Meta.

It also does not provide details of the documentary or the forum’s objections to proposed data centres in Visakhapatnam. HRF’s complaint therefore centres on transparency. The organisation says users should be told who sought the restrictions and why, while the platform’s position has not been provided in the supplied material.