Govt. warns Twitter of action over farmer tweets

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Twitter may face action if it does not comply with the government’s orders, the centre said today, stressing the social media giant “unilaterally unblocked” accounts and tweets – linked to a hashtag about farmers’ protest – despite its order.

The social media giant “cannot assume the role of (a) court and justify non-compliance,” the government said today in a statement.  “Twitter being an intermediary is obliged to obey the directions as per satisfaction of authorities as to which inflammatory content will arouse passion and impact public order. Twitter cannot sit as an appellate authority over the satisfaction of the authorities about its potential impact on derailing public order,” the statement read.

More than 250 Twitter accounts were blocked on Monday for tweeting, or retweeting, with the #ModiPlanningFarmerGenocide hashtag, and making “fake, intimidatory and provocative tweets” in connection with the ongoing farmers’ protest. The crackdown came amid growing outrage on social media platforms over the clashes between Delhi Police and farmers on Republic Day. In particular, the death of a farmer at the ITO junction in central Delhi was highlighted by several journalists and activists.