Satish Acharya's Instagram blocked in India for second time

Satish Acharya, a 55-year-old Indian cartoonist, discovered on Tuesday that his Instagram account had been blocked again. It is the second time in three weeks that his profile has become inaccessible to users in India. When he checked his account earlier this week, he could no longer view his own work or interact with followers.

The restriction began on September 28 and lasted until October 6. During that period, anyone trying to find his profile through search or a web link saw a message stating the account was unavailable under India's Information Technology Rules. Acharya wrote to Meta, the parent company of Instagram, but received no reply. He was preparing to file a lawsuit when the account briefly became accessible again in early October, only to be blocked for three days earlier this week.

This is not the first time a cartoonist has faced such restrictions recently. A few weeks ago, another artist named Manjul found that Instagram had restricted a post criticizing the country's election commission. His profile remained accessible, but the specific content was limited. Both artists say they received little explanation for why their work was blocked. Meta told the BBC that it may temporarily restrict accounts to comply with local laws but did not specify the reasons for Acharya's or Manjul's cases.

The restrictions coincide with a surge in government orders sent to social media platforms. According to the Indian Express, government agencies sent nearly 195,000 blocking and content-restriction orders to platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube between March and July. These figures were obtained through a right-to-information request. The data does not specify how many posts were ultimately removed, though technology expert Prateek Waghre notes that Meta appears more willing to comply with these orders than other platforms like X.

Political satire has become a prominent form of dissent in India, particularly among younger audiences. Memes and online humor helped fuel protests over education and jobs in July, which led to the resignation of the education minister. Online debate has also intensified over a revision of voter rolls that removed 130 million names. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party has urged ministers to strengthen their online presence to connect with these younger voters.

Acharya notes that he has faced official restrictions only since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014. Before that, his cartoons targeted the previous government and were often shared by BJP leaders. He describes the current climate as one where artists must question whoever holds power, even as they face pressure to self-censor. Sandeep Adhwaryu, a cartoonist at a leading Indian newspaper, says the craft requires opposition to authority, but that artists now often soften captions or avoid certain subjects to avoid trouble.

The reliance on digital platforms creates a new vulnerability for independent artists. Rachita Taneja, the creator of the popular Instagram comic Sanitary Panels, says her career depends on the internet. However, she views social media as a double-edged sword because it is a for-profit business that answers to advertisers. Taneja argues that Meta's compliance with government requests reflects commercial priorities rather than user rights. Meta declined to comment on this assessment.

The Indian IT ministry has also reportedly asked Meta to ensure its recommendation systems do not steer users toward a single set of narratives. Authorities want stronger checks on content that could cause public disorder or incite violence. The ministry has not responded to a request for comment from the BBC. The 195,000 orders sent through the federal government's Sahyog portal highlight the scale of this regulatory effort.

Cartoonists continue to find ways to support one another despite the restrictions. When Acharya's account was first blocked, Taneja drew a stick-figure cartoon in solidarity. Adhwaryu believes satire will continue to adapt to its environment, comparing it to a shape-shifting virus that mutates in response to pressure. Acharya says he will continue to draw, regardless of whether his work is seen on a single platform or shared through other channels.