The Instagram account of the citizen-led ‘Stop Vizag Data Centers’ campaign has been restricted in India, according to representatives of the campaign. The account is reportedly unavailable to users in India but remains accessible in other countries. A message displayed on the account says access was temporarily restricted pursuant to legal requirements under India’s Information Technology Rules.

Campaign representatives said that nine posts had been restricted in India in the weeks preceding the account-level restriction. They also said the account had accumulated more than 11,800 followers and 56 lakh views within two months. The campaign has been raising concerns about proposed AI data centre projects around Visakhapatnam, particularly regarding land use, water requirements, energy consumption and environmental impacts.

 

Following the restriction, the campaign announced a backup Instagram account and called for restoration of the original account. The campaign's claims about the circumstances behind the restriction are its own assertions; the available reports confirm the restriction notice but do not independently establish who specifically requested the action.