Sahyog portal
Why in news?
Sahyog portal, operated by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, automates notices for blocking unlawful online content under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000. Recent RTI data reveals over 2,300 such content blocking orders issued from October 2024 to October 2025, averaging six per day across 19 platforms. These orders target posts, links, or accounts deemed offensive, distinct from Section 69A's national security focus.
About
- Sahyog portal was launched by Ministry of Home Affairs in October 2024 to streamline content blocking orders issued to online platforms under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000.
- It enables central, state, and UT agencies to send takedown notices for unlawful content directly to intermediaries like WhatsApp and YouTube.
Key Statistics
- Platforms under Meta dominated, receiving 78% of orders: WhatsApp (1,392), Facebook (255), and Instagram (169), followed by YouTube (176) and Telegram (123).
- Over 118 intermediaries are onboarded, with orders covering posts, accounts, or links deemed offensive or unlawful.
- A spike occurred during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, targeting thousands of accounts.​
Legal Framework
- Orders under Section 79(3)(b) aim to strip safe harbour protections from non-compliant platforms, bypassing Section 69A's stricter safeguards for national security issues.
- Recent IT Rules amendments mandate senior officials for such orders and monthly reviews.
- X Corp challenged it as a "censorship portal," but the Karnataka High Court upheld its use in September 2025; an appeal is pending.​
Concerns
- Critics argue Sahyog creates a parallel regime evading due process, enabling vague "unlawful content" takedowns without hearings or public disclosure.
- It empowers even local police, raising overreach concerns under Articles 14 and 19 but, Government defends it as an efficient tool for law enforcement coordination.​
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