On 19th September 2026, we were informed by Meta that our Instagram account 'Stop Vizag Data Centers' was restricted in India in 'pursuant to legal requirements under India's Information Technology Rules'. Prior to restricting our account in India, 9 of our posts were also restricted.
The 'Stop Vizag Data Centers' campaign account garnered more than 56 lakh views and 11,800 followers in a short span of two months. It engaged with widespread concerns on the development of AI data centers in and around Visakhapatnam in relation to the perceived inevitability and non-transparency associated with hyperscalers, and the socio-ecological costs that are imposed on the people of Vizag.
The censorship, although arbitrary, wasn't sudden by any means. Over the last few weeks, we received a series of restriction orders, targeting 9 of our posts. Content critical of AI data centers has been taken down in India on Instagram on a noticeable scale- with hundred-odd posts from various organizations and personal accounts, and, ironically, an investigative documentary by a reporters' collective. Taking down of the Instagram account in toto for an indefinite time, however, is a first; and of a general concern- for the process of takedown completely bypasses deliberation of any form before reaching the decision.
It is now abundantly clear that the Andhra IT minister's claims of welcoming public debate and addressing people's concerns are utterly hollow. Suppressing critical voices can never be a substitute for transparency and democratic accountability.
We condemn this restriction in the strongest terms and demand that Meta restore our account at the earliest.
The 'Stop Vizag Data Centers' campaign account garnered more than 56 lakh views and 11,800 followers in a short span of two months. It engaged with widespread concerns on the development of AI data centers in and around Visakhapatnam in relation to the perceived inevitability and non-transparency associated with hyperscalers, and the socio-ecological costs that are imposed on the people of Vizag.
The censorship, although arbitrary, wasn't sudden by any means. Over the last few weeks, we received a series of restriction orders, targeting 9 of our posts. Content critical of AI data centers has been taken down in India on Instagram on a noticeable scale- with hundred-odd posts from various organizations and personal accounts, and, ironically, an investigative documentary by a reporters' collective. Taking down of the Instagram account in toto for an indefinite time, however, is a first; and of a general concern- for the process of takedown completely bypasses deliberation of any form before reaching the decision.
It is now abundantly clear that the Andhra IT minister's claims of welcoming public debate and addressing people's concerns are utterly hollow. Suppressing critical voices can never be a substitute for transparency and democratic accountability.
We condemn this restriction in the strongest terms and demand that Meta restore our account at the earliest.
Stop Dirty Data Centers Campaign
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Update: A backup account was setup which can be followed at: instagram.com/stop.vizag.data.centers/