The Indian government officials met virtually with X and Meta executives, as well as airline representatives, amidst over a hundred hoax bomb threats on some of these flights.  This meeting aimed to address the alarming spread of these threats on social media and the subsequent chaos they have caused.

 

How does X contribute to the spread of hoax threats?

 

During the meeting, chaired by Joint Secretary Sanket S. Bhondve, officials criticized X for allowing the circulation of these hoax threats, accusing the platform of "abetting crime." Government representatives pressed the social media platform on the measures being implemented to curb the spread of such dangerous rumors. Delhi Police have faced challenges identifying users responsible for posting these threat messages, raising concerns about accountability on social media.

 

Steps taken by the authorities

 

Delhi Police have registered eight FIRs related to bomb threats affecting over 90 domestic and international flights departing from Delhi. Notable accounts, including @adamlanza111, @psychotichuman, and @schizobomer777, have been identified as sharing these threats and have since been suspended. The first case was filed on October 16 after a bomb threat was reported for a Bengaluru-bound Akasa Air flight via X.

Law enforcers have suspected that the perpetrators who posted these accounts registered their profiles with the use of Virtual Private Networks or dark web browsers. This has raised grave concerns over how easily criminals can leverage social media for malicious activities.

To the Indian government, it is not only this crisis that needs to be dealt with but also the possible legislative actions needed to cope with such threats. It can put the no-fly list on the persons found guilty of making such hoax threats in a court of law so that these people do not again pose a threat to public safety.

Apart from disruptions on many flights, this wave of bomb threats has also triggered inconveniences regarding air travel safety practices. As authorities continue to investigate and take measures to put a stop on the wave of threats, the social media watch continues for these media practitioners so they would still keep their irresponsible acts from compromising public safety.