Amid growing national security concerns, several state governments are moving to prohibit photography and videography in sensitive public locations, including railway stations, bus terminals, and government or defense-related sites. This follows the recent arrest of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra in an espionage case, which has heightened fears of surveillance vulnerabilities at key infrastructure points.
Traditionally, railway and metro stations have been popular locations for selfies, photography, and vlog-style videos. However, officials now warn that visual content from these areas could be exploited by terrorist groups to plan attacks. Intelligence agencies have reportedly linked video footage shared online by content creators to the detailed planning of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
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In a proactive step, the Uttar Pradesh government has already implemented a ban on selfies, photography, and videography at all railway stations across the state. Citing security risks, the Yogi Adityanath-led administration has issued formal orders restricting such activities and has enhanced security measures at transportation hubs.
Authorities note that, even without direct information-sharing, visual content uploaded to social media platforms can be accessed by hostile entities and used to identify vulnerabilities. Given this, the move aims to minimize exposure of sensitive areas to potential misuse.
Following Uttar Pradesh’s lead, other state governments are reportedly reviewing similar measures to safeguard critical infrastructure. Enhanced surveillance and tightened access protocols are also being considered as part of broader efforts to strengthen national security.