Twitter definitively suspend over 500 accounts in India based on state order. The popular social media company stated that in the last few days that it was ordered by the ministry of electronics and information technology.
The company restricted some of the accounts temporarily and then retrieve the accounts on the basis of freedom of speech.
Twitter also restricted the accounts of several high profile people in India. These include but not limited to the caravan magazine, Shashi Shekar vempati, Prasar Bharti the chief executive of state-run radio agency, and the communist party of India’s account.
Lots of these accounts that were restricted by Twitter in India were tweeting in conjunction with the ongoing farmer’s protest in India. After a vast outrage and disruption, the social media company retrieved the accounts that were restricted.
The social media company said it has diminished the reach of hashtags incorporating destructive content, the social media company also stated that it hasn’t taken any actions on the accounts of activist, politicians, and journalist;
‘’Because we do not believe that the actions we have been directed to take are consistent with Indian law, and, in keeping with our principles of defending protected speech and freedom of expression, we have not taken any action on accounts that consist of news media entities, journalists, activists, and politicians’’
Last week, the Indian government relaid to the social media company stating that failure to acknowledge its request may warrant a penalty.
Twitter said it will continue to endorse the right to freedom of expression on behalf of the people and it’s currently researching other options under the Indian law for both the company and accounts that have been impacted.