Twitter has blocked the accounts of several journalists, activists, news website The Caravan, Kisan Ekta Morcha, actor Sushant Singh and Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar in response to ‘legal demand.’ It’s however, not clear which legal demand, in particular, necessitated the microblogging site to withhold mass blocking of accounts.
Prasar Bharti took to Twitter to ask why its CEO’s account has been withheld by the social media giant. CPI-M MP Md Salim’s account to has been withheld. Also facing Twitter’s action are AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon, activist Hansraj Meena,
Dear @twitter @TwitterIndia could you explain the grounds for witholding CEO Prasar Bharati’s twitter handle @shashidigital in India ? pic.twitter.com/ITGpYCaLur
— Prasar Bharati प्रसार भारती (@prasarbharati) February 1, 2021
Well someone I know as a strong voice against the atrocities of the Present government, @sushant_says ,his account has been blocked by @TwitterIndia . @sushant_says was leading the fight against abusive, Twitter handles that spew hate & threaten women.
Stunned @_sayema pic.twitter.com/oKE4TauOai— Tehseen Poonawalla Official (@tehseenp) February 1, 2021
Dear @twitter @TwitterIndia could you explain the grounds for witholding CEO Prasar Bharati’s twitter handle @shashidigital in India ? pic.twitter.com/ITGpYCaLur
— Prasar Bharati प्रसार भारती (@prasarbharati) February 1, 2021
Journalist Sidhant Sibal tweeted saying that India’s IT ministry had directed Twitter to ‘block 250 tweets/Twitter accounts under section 69A of IT act over provocative and intimidatory tweets on Saturday.’
Not too long ago, Facebook had courted controversy by removing the account of Kisan Ekta Morcha. The social media had later restored the account following criticism.
The latest action by Twitter follows a series of police actions against many journalists including Rajdeep Sardesai, Zafar Agha, Mrinal Pande, Paresh Nath, Anant Nath and Vinod K. Jose for allegedly spreading misinformation in connection with 26 January’s farmers’ tractor rally.
The Delhi Police on Friday also arrested freelance journalist Mandeep Punia, who’s been reporting on the farmers’ protest for The Caravan website.
More to follow