The government has advised major social media platforms to prioritise action against unlawful content related to ongoing protests, based on complaints received from authorised bodies, including law enforcement agencies, according to a PTI report.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is learnt to have issued an advisory to social media companies on October 8, expressing concern over the online circulation of information related to the protests that is allegedly false, misleading, manipulated or presented out of context.

According to the advisory, such content could disturb public order and social tranquillity, raise law-and-order concerns and potentially incite violence. The government has urged platforms to respond swiftly to complaints concerning such material.

The advisory comes amid concerns over the spread of misleading information online during ongoing protests.