UN experts urge India to end protest-related internet shutdowns and surveillance
UN human rights experts have called on Indian authorities to end blanket restrictions on protests, internet disruptions and the alleged misuse of digital surveillance following demonstrations in New Delhi and elsewhere. They also called for an independent investigation into law enforcement conduct amid reports of mass detentions and the deletion of protest-related material from seized phones.
The UN human rights experts has urged India to strengthen protections for peaceful assembly and investigate reported human rights violations during recent protests. In a statement published on 20 October 2026, UN human rights experts raised concerns about police responses to youth-led demonstrations, including reported internet shutdowns, mass detentions and the alleged deletion of material from protesters’ phones.
The demonstrations have addressed government decisions on education and, more recently, the removal of around 130 million names from voter lists. The experts said Section 163 of India’s Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the country’s criminal procedure code, had reportedly been used to impose broad restrictions on public gatherings, suspend public transport and disrupt internet access.
Reports cited by the experts indicated that more than 7,000 people, including journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders, had been detained in New Delhi and transferred to detention centres. Detainees’ phones were allegedly seized and protest-related material deleted, although most were reportedly released within 24 hours.
The UN experts called on the authorities to refrain from excessive force, lift blanket restrictions on peaceful assemblies and stop the misuse of digital surveillance, including biometric technologies. They also urged an independent and impartial investigation into law enforcement conduct. Any restrictions on peaceful assembly, they said, must have a lawful basis, pursue a legitimate aim and be necessary and proportionate.
Internet disruptions have featured in previous protests organised by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party. Amnesty International reported a 24-hour mobile internet shutdown in central Delhi during a demonstration on 10 October. Mobile internet services were also suspended during a protest in July, while the Internet Freedom Foundation raised concerns that no official suspension order had been made public.
The Indian government has rejected previous criticism of its handling of the demonstrations. After the UN human rights office raised concerns about mass detentions earlier in October, India’s Ministry of External Affairs described the remarks as unwarranted interference and stated that the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the Constitution.
The latest warning highlights concerns about the use of digital measures during public demonstrations. Internet shutdowns can restrict communication, access to information and the ability to document events, while phone seizures and the deletion of material raise questions about privacy and the preservation of potential evidence. The UN experts’ call places the emphasis on legal safeguards, transparency and accountability when authorities deploy surveillance technologies or restrict connectivity during protests.
Read the UN human rights experts’ statement for further details.
