People familiar with the development said that hours after the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its eight affiliate or frontal organisations were banned under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the Centre issued a “takedown” order to block these organisations’ websites and social media accounts so that they could not propagate their activities.
The official websites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram accounts, YouTube channels, or any other online presence of PFI, Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation (Kerala) are being permanently blocked as part of the “takedown” order, and contents posted by them are being removed.
PFI, RIF, and AIIC websites had already been blocked at the time of filing this report. Others are being processed on the orders of the Department of Telecommunications, based on referrals from central agencies, according to an unnamed official.
According to this source, references are being sent to social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter to remove their accounts and any content related to PFI, which is now a terror organisation.
PFI, as an “illegal association,” will not issue any press statements through any official channel.
Furthermore, according to a second official familiar with the situation, official WhatsApp accounts linked to PFI, CFI, RIF, and other affiliates will be monitored, and any anti-national activity will be prosecuted.
According to the second officer, if the PFI or any of its affiliates open any proxy social media accounts or websites for their activities, those can now be blocked as well.
