Updated June 5th, 2021 at 12:07 IST
Netizens demand action against Twitter over 'blue tick' row, trend #TwitterBanInIndia
Several netizens have demanded that the government take action against Twitter and counter its influence by building an indigenous social media platform.
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Twitter courted controversy on Saturday after it removed the 'blue verified badges' from the accounts of the Vice President of India and several RSS top brass including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Even though Twitter was quick to restore VP Venkaiah Naidu's blue tick, the accounts of RSS leaders such as joint secretaries Krishna Gopal and Arun Kumar, former general secretary Suresh Joshi alias "Bhaiyyaji" amongst others have been stripped of the Twitter blue tick. This move, timed during the already escalating row between the Government of India and the social media giant over the new IT rules has caused a massive stir on social media with several demanding strict action against the Jack Dorsey-led company including a complete ouster.
Netizens demand action against Twitter
Several netizens have demanded that the Government take action against Twitter and counter its influence by building an indigenous social media platform. Others have cited Nigeria as an example urging Indian authorities to follow suit. Notably, Nigeria became the first country to suspend the US-based micro-blogging website in the African continent after it froze President Muhammadu Buhari's account. Shortly after Twitter's arbitrary action against Indian leaders, 'Twitter Ban in India' began to trend on the platform.
#TwitterBanInIndia#TwitterSuspendedinNigeria
— Muరली Rao 🐅 (@MurliRao14) June 5, 2021
Vice President Of India Blue tick verified removed bt Twitter.
Immediately govt take a action twitter account and make in india apps start to indian platform.
If a small country like Nigeria can act against Twitter. Why Can We? pic.twitter.com/8OjB7zMIXJ
This is crazy. Now @TwitterIndia has removed blue ticks of several handles of RSS functionaries.
— Eray Mridula Cather (@ErayCr) June 5, 2021
Normally am not in favour of banning, but now I think—it’s time to permanently ban Twitter from India.
Their message to India is clear—“Do whatever you can, we won’t change!”
If Twitter keeps testing water like this then it won’t be long before it finds itself to be in deep water !!!#TwitterIndia #TwitterBanInIndia pic.twitter.com/a2FOaJ45aq
— Bindu Johal 🇮🇳 (@bindujohal1) June 5, 2021
Twitter !!! Mohan bhagwats Twitter account, bluetick off .May I know the reason?? Get some shame @twitter .you shd be banned in india asap.#TwitterBanInIndia
— RaghuAM (@RaghuAM17) June 5, 2021
Twitter removed blue badge from personal account of India's vice president. So disrespectful.
— The Abhishek अभिषेक (@the_realAbhi) June 5, 2021
What is the meaning of being vice-president of world's lagest democracy, if a social media giant shows arrogance against, and disrespect him.#VicePresident #TwitterBanInIndia
Twitter Temporarily Freezes Account of Nigerian President ;
— मुकुल यादव (यदुवंशी)🇮🇳 (@Yadavji_) June 5, 2021
Nigeria 'Indefinitely' Suspends Twitter from their country.
And India the biggest democracy is Still having hesitations.!!#VenkaiahNaidu #blueTick
Twitter seeks amendments in IT rules
The social media platform has been at loggerheads with the Government of India over the last few weeks over its non-compliance to the new IT rules rolled out by the Centre on February 25. While other social media giants such as Google, Facebook, and Youtube have avered compliance with the new IT rules, Twitter has so far been defiant and in turn, has sought certain amendments in the rules. This has prompted serious concerns.
"Twitter strives to comply with applicable law in India. We continue to be strictly guided by principles of transparency, a commitment to empowering every voice on the service, and protecting freedom of expression and privacy under the Indian law," the company spokesperson said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Centre has asserted that if the social media companies fail to comply with the new IT rules, then they will be liable to losing their status and protection as Intermediaries. Additionally, they may also face criminal action as per the existing laws of India.
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Published June 5th, 2021 at 12:07 IST
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