India to regulate online news and social media sites

[MenInG]

India’s government has issued an order bringing the regulation of online news portals and content providers such as Netflix under the authority of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in a first step to regulate digital media.

News on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram will also come under the ministry, as will audio-visual content on online platforms, according to Wednesday’s announcement.

Apar Gupta, executive director at the Internet Freedom Foundation, said the order set out to clarify overlapping jurisdictions between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

“Online news media portals as well as OTT [over-the-top] streaming platforms such as Netflix” will now come under the jurisdiction of the information and broadcasting ministry, Gupta told Al Jazeera.

However, it was not clear if news portals from other countries would be included.

According to local media, the government will pass a law in Parliament detailing the regulation of online media.

While electronic media in India is regulated by the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995, there was no law or body to oversee digital content in the past.

Wednesday’s order comes after the Supreme Court sought answers from the government last month after hearing a petition to regulate content on OTT platforms.

In September, 15 live-streaming platforms announced self-regulation to pre-empt censorship after right-wing activists called for regulation of online content.

Not a ‘good sign’

India’s Bollywood film industry is censored by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) but Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Zee5 and other OTT platforms, which have become very popular particularly during the pandemic, are unregulated.

“Right-wing and conservative elements in the country, many of whom are the supporters of the ruling government, have been saying there is need to regulate the content on OTT platforms like Netflix and it came up ostensibly because online platforms are showing films that do not come under the regulatory ambit of CBFC and they say you are showing a lot of explicit scenes which depict sex and violence,” Paranjoy Guha Tharukta, writer and senior journalist, said.

Guha added that: “The design of the government behind this move is to control online media, both fiction and non-fiction.”

Siddharth Varadarajan, founding editor of thewire.in news website, said the move is “prelude to some kind of ordinance on digital news media.”

“We have to see what the government is trying to do, what rules they are trying to bring in, but either way I don’t think this is a good sign because the fact is that the digital media is already subject to the laws of the land,” he told Al Jazeera.

“All the restrictions that exist on regular media such as the law of defamation or various other constraints, they all apply to digital media. In addition to that, digital media has the burden of compliance with the Information Technology Act which does not apply to newspapers and news channels.

“In my view, digital media is already regulated and if the government is looking for an additional layer then this is not a healthy sign and no democracy has this kind of a thing. That in itself should give us reason to be cautious.”

Al Jazeera tried to reach out to the spokesman of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party but he declined to comment.

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/...-social-media-sites?__twitter_impression=true

 

[CricketCartoons]

Good move. Should have happened earlier. There should be a level playing field whether offline or online media.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

They claim they are just platforms yet social media sites now behave like publishers - they decide what is and isn’t okay on their sites (like the recent Hunter Biden story) . If so then fine they can do this but they should be treated like publishers and be legally responsible for everything on their sites.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

What about News Channels on Youtube?

 

[Firebat]

Such a move can go multiple ways, a means of censorship or a welcome restriction on fake news.

In this case, it seems almost certainly the latter. Good move. Hatred and fake news is very dangerous and extensive online (I hope they actually use this to regulate that though).

 

[Abdullah719]

News channels?

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: The government today wrote to major social media platforms on whether they had complied with new digital rules taking effect today and asked for their response "ASAP, preferably today".
Platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter were given three months to comply with the new rules that require them to appoint a compliance officer in India, set up a grievance response mechanism and take down content within 36 hours of a legal order.

The note from the Ministry of Electronics and IT asked the companies to give information on the status of compliance and stressed: "Please confirm and share your response ASAP and preferably today itself."

The companies have to give the name and contact details of a chief compliance officer, a nodal contact person, a resident grievance officer and a physical address of the company in India.

The new rules require sites to set up a mechanism to respond to complaints and also enable tracing the "first originator" of information found to "undermine the sovereignty of India, security of the state, or public order".

"Significant social media intermediaries", or big sites that host third party information, messages and posts, stand to lose protection from lawsuits and prosecution if they fail to comply with the rules.

This means that big tech companies can no longer be just intermediaries, which gave them legal immunity from objectionable content posted by users. They will be treated as any other publishing platform and can face action.

WhatsApp has gone to court against the rules, saying it will be compelled to trace the origin of messages and break privacy protections to users.

Facebook and Google have said they will ensure compliance. Facebook also says it wants to discuss some "issues which need more engagement".

Twitter is yet to comment; it is caught in the "Congress *******" tweet controversy and finds itself on the radar of the government and Delhi Police for marking a BJP leader's post as "manipulated media".

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gov...rably-today-2449793?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: Responding to WhatsApp's lawsuit challenging new digital rules on grounds of violation of user privacy, the government said today it is committed to the right to privacy of citizens but it is subject to "reasonable restrictions" and "no fundamental right is absolute".
The IT Ministry also doubled down on the rules, writing to all significant social media platforms asking for details of their compliance. "Please confirm and share your response ASAP and preferably today itself," said the note.

Rebutting WhatsApp's arguments, Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said: "The government of India is committed to ensuring right to privacy to all its citizens as well as having the means and the information necessary to ensure public order and maintain national security. It is WhatsApp's responsibility to find a technical solution, whether through encryption or otherwise, that both happen."

But he asserted that "no fundamental right, including the right to privacy, is absolute and it is subject to reasonable restrictions," and calling for details of the "first originator of information" was an example of such a "reasonable restriction"

Mr Prasad insisted WhatsApp's normal functioning or its users would not be impacted in any way. WhatsApp, he said, would be required to disclose the origin of a message only if it is "for prevention, investigation or punishment of very serious offences related to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order, or of incitement to an offence relating to the above or in relation with rape, sexually explicit material or child sexual abuse material".

WhatsApp filed its petition in the Delhi High Court on Tuesday against the rules that will require it to "trace" the origin of messages. It argues that messages on its platform are end-to-end encrypted, so to comply with the law it would have to break encryption for those who send and receive messages.

"Requiring messaging apps to 'trace' chats is the equivalent of asking us to keep a fingerprint of every single message sent on WhatsApp, which would break end-to-end encryption and fundamentally undermine people's right to privacy," WhatsApp, which has nearly 400 million users in India, says.

"We have consistently joined civil society and experts around the world in opposing requirements that would violate the privacy of our users. In the meantime, we will also continue to engage with the government of India on practical solutions aimed at keeping people safe, including responding to valid legal requests for the information available to us," said a spokesperson of the California-based Facebook unit.

Mr Prasad said the originator of information can only be traced "as a last resort" in a scenario where other remedies have proven to be ineffective, and there are sufficient legal safeguards.

"It is in public interest that who started the mischief leading to such crime must be detected and punished. We cannot deny as to how in cases of mob lynching and riots etc. repeated WhatsApp messages are circulated and recirculated whose content are already in public domain. Hence the role of who originated is very important," the Minister asserted.

The government also said WhatsApp had made no specific objection to traceability earlier. Citing other countries, it said India was asking for "significantly much less".

Platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter were given three months to comply with the new rules that require them to appoint a compliance officer in India, set up a grievance response mechanism and take down content within 36 hours of a legal order.

Mr Prasad said WhatsApp's case was an attempt to block the rules on the day they are to take effect.

The Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code says "significant social media intermediaries" or sites that host third party information, messages and posts stand to lose protection from lawsuits and prosecution if they fail to comply.

This means that big tech companies can no longer be just intermediaries, which gave them legal immunity from objectionable content posted by users. They will be treated as any other publishing platform and can face action.

Facebook and Google have said they will ensure compliance. Facebook says it wants to discuss some "issues which need more engagement".

Twitter is yet to comment; it is caught in the "Congress *******" tweet controversy and finds itself on the radar of the government and Delhi Police for marking a BJP leader's post as "manipulated media".

NDTV

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: Google is committed to complying with local laws and engages constructively with governments as they scrutinise and adopt regulatory frameworks to keep pace with the fast evolving technology landscape, its CEO Sundar Pichai said today.
"It's obviously early days and our local teams are very engaged... we always respect local laws in every country we operate in and we work constructively. We have clear transparency reports, when we comply with government requests, we highlight that in our transparency reports," Mr Pichai said in a virtual conference with select reporters from Asia Pacific.

He added that a free and open internet is "foundational", and that India has long traditions of that.

As a company, we are very clear about the values of a free and open internet and the benefits it brings and we advocate for it, and we engage constructively with regulators around the world, and we participate in these processes, I think it's a part of how we learn..."

He added that the company respects the legislative processes, and in cases where it needs to push back, it does so. "It's a balance we have struck around the world," he said.

Mr Pichai noted that technology is touching society in deeper and broader ways and the landscape is evolving at a fast pace.

"So, we fully expect governments rightfully to both scrutinize and adopt regulatory frameworks. Be it Europe with copyright directive or India with information regulation etc, we see it as a natural part of societies figuring out how to govern and adapt themselves in this technology-intensive world," he said, adding that Google engages constructively with regulators around the world, and participates in these processes.

The new IT rules for social media companies, which came into effect from Wednesday, are aimed at making digital platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram and Google - which have seen a phenomenal surge in usage over the past few years in India - more accountable and responsible for the content hosted on their platform.

The new rules, which were announced on February 25, require large social media players to follow additional due diligence, including the appointment of a chief compliance officer, nodal contact person and resident grievance officer.

'Significant social media intermediaries' - defined as those with over 50 lakh registered users - were given three months' time to comply with the additional requirements. Non-compliance with rules, will result in these social media companies losing their intermediary status that provides them exemptions and certain immunity from liabilities for any third-party information and data hosted by them. In other words, they could be liable for action.

Google has previously stated that it has consistently invested in significant product changes, resources, and personnel to ensure that it is combating illegal content in an effective and fair way, and complies with local laws in the jurisdictions it operates in.

The new rules also require these platforms to remove any content flagged by authorities within 36 hours, and take down posts depicting nudity or morphed photos within 24 hours of receiving a complaint.

The new guidelines mandate setting up a robust complaint redressal mechanism with an officer being based in the country, and significant social media companies will have to publish a monthly compliance report disclosing details of complaints received and action taken, as well as details of contents removed proactively.

They will also be required to have a physical contact address in India published on its website or mobile app, or both.

Interestingly, WhatsApp has moved Delhi High Court challenging the new digital rules on grounds that the requirement for the company to provide access to encrypted messages will break privacy protections.

NDTV

 

[CanadianG00se]

Canada is also doing exactly same thing with Bill C-10. Many countries will follow with similar laws to counter online hatred/propaganda/racism.

 

[King_Kohli]

#BREAKING : Russian Court has Fined Both Facebook and Google for Failing to Take Down 'illegal Content' inspite of Warning by Moscow.

Earlier Russian Communication Watchdog gives 24 hrs to Google to Delete 'Prohibited Content' or it will Face Fine and Slow Down in Traffic in the Country

 

[King_Kohli]

Host Databases of Russian Users within the Russian Territory by July 1st :
Russia's Communication Watchdog to Twitter, Facebook, and other Social Media Giants.

 

[OMB]

Good move.
This brings all of them under local Indian laws. Should hopefully result in more meaningful (less hate) content

 

[MenInG]

Twitter has expressed concerns over "freedom of expression in India", days after the police visited their offices.

The police served notice to the social media giant after it labelled a tweet as "manipulated media".

Twitter had applied the label to a tweet by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra.

The incident came amid tense relations between the Indian government and digital companies over new regulatory rules.

Leaders of the BJP had shared screenshots of a document on Twitter recently that they said was created by the main opposition party Congress to highlight the government's failure in handling the pandemic.

Congress complained to Twitter that the documents were fake - leading Twitter to mark some of the posts - including one by Mr Patra - as "manipulated media".

Under Twitter rules, it applies "manipulated media" tags to posts that include "media (videos, audio, and images) that have been deceptively altered or fabricated".

"Right now, we are concerned by recent events regarding our employees in India and the potential threat to freedom of expression for the people we serve," a Twitter spokesperson told the BBC on Thursday.

"We, alongside many in civil society in India and around the world, have concerns with regards to the use of intimidation tactics by the police in response to enforcement of our global Terms of Service, as well as with core elements of the new IT rules."

Delhi police said on Monday they had carried out the visit to Twitter to serve a notice to the company's managing director after receiving a complaint about how Mr Patra's tweet had been classified.

In February, the government introduced new guidelines to regulate digital content on social media and streaming platforms.

Under the new rules, social media platforms with more than five million users would be required to appoint a compliance officer, a nodal contact officer and a resident grievance officer.

In addition, they would have to track the originator of a particular message if asked by a court or the government.

India farmer protests
IMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGES
image captionEarlier this year Twitter blocked a number of accounts linked to farmers protests
Platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp were given three months to comply with these rules.

On Wednesday, WhatsApp sued the Indian government over the rules that will force the messaging service to violate privacy protections.

Twitter said it was "particularly concerned about the requirement to make an individual (the compliance officer) criminally liable for content on the platform, the requirements for proactive monitoring, and the blanket authority to seek information about our customers".

This, the social media giant said, represented "dangerous overreach that is inconsistent with open, democratic principles".

Twitter urged the government to "consider a minimum of three months extension in order for Twitter to implement the rules".

"We will continue our constructive dialogue with the Indian government and believe it is critical to adopt a collaborative approach. It is the collective responsibility of elected officials, industry, and civil society to safeguard the interests of the public," a spokesperson for the platform said.

In April, India ordered Twitter to remove tweets critical of its handling of the virus, which it complied with.

Earlier this year, Twitter also reversed its blocking of a number of accounts following a request from authorities. The accounts were linked to ongoing farmer protests against agricultural reforms. If Twitter had not complied, it could have meant jail time for Twitter's employees in India.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Twitter either operates under Indian laws or goes out. Two centuries back another foreign company came to India and hoisted its private laws over the local laws. It isn't going to happen again. Twitter is a for profit, foreign company, it will have to obey the laws.

Indian Constitution has not outsourced the job of judiciary and protection of laws to twitter. They need to come out of their idea of grandiosity.

 

[El Generico]

Twitter has expressed concerns over "freedom of expression in India", days after the police visited their offices.

The police served notice to the social media giant after it labelled a tweet as "manipulated media".

Twitter had applied the label to a tweet by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra.

The incident came amid tense relations between the Indian government and digital companies over new regulatory rules.

Leaders of the BJP had shared screenshots of a document on Twitter recently that they said was created by the main opposition party Congress to highlight the government's failure in handling the pandemic.

Congress complained to Twitter that the documents were fake - leading Twitter to mark some of the posts - including one by Mr Patra - as "manipulated media".

Under Twitter rules, it applies "manipulated media" tags to posts that include "media (videos, audio, and images) that have been deceptively altered or fabricated".

"Right now, we are concerned by recent events regarding our employees in India and the potential threat to freedom of expression for the people we serve," a Twitter spokesperson told the BBC on Thursday.

"We, alongside many in civil society in India and around the world, have concerns with regards to the use of intimidation tactics by the police in response to enforcement of our global Terms of Service, as well as with core elements of the new IT rules."

Delhi police said on Monday they had carried out the visit to Twitter to serve a notice to the company's managing director after receiving a complaint about how Mr Patra's tweet had been classified.

In February, the government introduced new guidelines to regulate digital content on social media and streaming platforms.

Under the new rules, social media platforms with more than five million users would be required to appoint a compliance officer, a nodal contact officer and a resident grievance officer.

In addition, they would have to track the originator of a particular message if asked by a court or the government.

India farmer protests
IMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGES
image captionEarlier this year Twitter blocked a number of accounts linked to farmers protests
Platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp were given three months to comply with these rules.

On Wednesday, WhatsApp sued the Indian government over the rules that will force the messaging service to violate privacy protections.

Twitter said it was "particularly concerned about the requirement to make an individual (the compliance officer) criminally liable for content on the platform, the requirements for proactive monitoring, and the blanket authority to seek information about our customers".

This, the social media giant said, represented "dangerous overreach that is inconsistent with open, democratic principles".

Twitter urged the government to "consider a minimum of three months extension in order for Twitter to implement the rules".

"We will continue our constructive dialogue with the Indian government and believe it is critical to adopt a collaborative approach. It is the collective responsibility of elected officials, industry, and civil society to safeguard the interests of the public," a spokesperson for the platform said.

In April, India ordered Twitter to remove tweets critical of its handling of the virus, which it complied with.

Earlier this year, Twitter also reversed its blocking of a number of accounts following a request from authorities. The accounts were linked to ongoing farmer protests against agricultural reforms. If Twitter had not complied, it could have meant jail time for Twitter's employees in India.

Wait so is the Indian government mad that Twitter called out their politicians for spreading fake and manipulated media?

I know Indian news channels allow their politicians to away with lies but Twitter would face backlash if they allow their platform to be used for BJP propaganda. Especially since they even labeled Trump's tweet as misleading, it would seem hypocritical if they let Indian politicians openly post fake images.

Anyways hope India bans Twitter, would be a win-win for most.

 

[MenInG]

Amid a standoff with social media giant Twitter over the new IT Rules, the central government on Thursday accused the platform of lying and said it has no “locus in dictating” India’s legal policies.

The government said Twitter “needs to stop beating around the bush and comply with the laws of the land”, instead of attempting to “dictate terms to the world’s largest democracy”.

“Law making and policy formulations is the sole prerogative of the sovereign and Twitter is just a social media platform and it has no locus in dictating what should India’s legal policy framework should be,” said the Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology in a statement.

The development comes after Twitter earlier in the day expressed concerns over the “potential threat to freedom of expression and intimidation tactics by the police”.

Delhi Police officials had visited the company’s offices in Delhi and Gurugram on Monday in connection with an ongoing probe over the “*******” controversy between the ruling BJP and Congress.

The social media giant also said that it will strive to comply with the law and will be strictly guided by principles of transparency.

Condemning Twitter’s statement as “baseless”, the government said it’s “an attempt to defame India to hide their own follies”.

“Through its actions and deliberate defiance, Twitter seeks to undermine India’s legal system. Furthermore, Twitter refuses to comply with those very regulations in the Intermediary Guidelines on the basis of which it is claiming a safe harbour protection from any criminal liability in India,” it said.

The government also assured Twitter and other social media platforms that their representatives “are and will always remain safe in India and there is no threat to their personal safety and security”.

Stressing that protecting freedom of speech is the “commitment of the world’s largest democracy”, the government said it “respects the right of people to ask questions and also criticise on these social media platforms, including on Twitter”.

“The Government equally respects the right of privacy. However, the only instance of scuttling free speech on Twitter is Twitter itself and its opaque policies, as a result of which people’s accounts are suspended and tweets deleted arbitrarily without recourse,” it said.

Twitter is mired in a controversy after it labeled a tweet from BJPs Sambit Patra as ‘Manipulated Media’. Several BJP leaders have urged Twitter to remove the manipulated media tag from tweets of BJP leaders. The Congress, on the other hand, has said that it wants the ‘Manipulated Media’ tag on 11 union ministers’ Tweets.

News18

 

[cricketjoshila]

Wait so is the Indian government mad that Twitter called out their politicians for spreading fake and manipulated media?

I know Indian news channels allow their politicians to away with lies but Twitter would face backlash if they allow their platform to be used for BJP propaganda. Especially since they even labeled Trump's tweet as misleading, it would seem hypocritical if they let Indian politicians openly post fake images.

Anyways hope India bans Twitter, would be a win-win for most.

Twitter isnt the judge to decide what is what? Indian laws don't allow twitter to do the job of the judiciary. Once the govt orders twitter to do something, either they do it or challenge the order in courts or they are liable to be prosecuted.

What they did in USA is immaterial. They are a foreign company in India and have to follow our laws. They are not allowed to meddle in our political process.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

India is crumbling infront of our eyes.

 

[finalfantasy7]

whatsapp suing india:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BV6-XRpFD3E" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[cricketjoshila]

India is crumbling infront of our eyes.

Rather we are refusing to bow down to the whims of the big tech companies.

Their TOS doesn't overrule our laws.

 

[cricketjoshila]

All major social media companies, including FB whatsapp google LinkedIn etc has complied with the govt regulations, except Twitter. Seems Twitter wants to be prosecuted and then cry victim.

 

[PakLFC]

What this means is the editors will all be pro BJP and RSS telling the world Covid 19 and black fungus are no problem in India. They will also insist China is not sitting on Indian land.

 

[Bi_Jamalo]

Twitter isnt the judge to decide what is what? Indian laws don't allow twitter to do the job of the judiciary. Once the govt orders twitter to do something, either they do it or challenge the order in courts or they are liable to be prosecuted.

What they did in USA is immaterial. They are a foreign company in India and have to follow our laws. They are not allowed to meddle in our political process.

Just last week Indian government was trying to force social media companies to stop calling the “Covid-19 Indian Variant” as “Indian variant” because it isn’t a scientifically accurate.

https://time.com/6051039/indian-variant-social-media/

Lol who cares abt the scientific names, everyone knows that it originated in India.

Same indians had no issues with Covid-19 being called the “Wuhan Virus”.

Can and “should” the indian government be able to dictate these things on the global social media?

 

[cricketjoshila]

Just last week Indian government was trying to force social media companies to stop calling the “Covid-19 Indian Variant” as “Indian variant” because it isn’t a scientifically accurate.

https://time.com/6051039/indian-variant-social-media/

Lol who cares abt the scientific names, everyone knows that it originated in India.

Same indians had no issues with Covid-19 being called the “Wuhan Virus”.

Can and “should” the indian government be able to dictate these things on the global social media?

Is the virus called Wuhan virus or chinese virud routinely? If not why are variants called UK Brazilian South African or Indian variant?

India government can and should regulate what is on social media in India.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Except Twitter rest all social media companies have complied with the Indian regulations.

 

[LongHorn]

While not a fan of GOI, social media companies also show extreme bias in news. We saw that in the Gaza war as well.
And also in other matters where some news they dont like can be sent for fact checking.

 

[IAJ]

Is the virus called Wuhan virus or chinese virud routinely? If not why are variants called UK Brazilian South African or Indian variant?

India government can and should regulate what is on social media in India.

What you and your country wants, you people decide.

But in the rest of the World these viruses are called British variant, Brazilian variant, Sout African variant, Indian variant and now today there are news about a Vietnamese variant. And everyone knows it originated from China and when the new variants were not know you just called it Corona virus as the new variants was not known but again people knew it was Chinese.

 

[MenInG]

In accordance with the requirement of the new digital rules, IT giants like Google, Facebook and WhatsApp have shared details with the IT Ministry but Twitter is still not following the norms, government sources said.

According to sources, Twitter has not sent details of the chief compliance officer to the IT Ministry and shared details of a lawyer working in a law firm as nodal contact person and grievance officer.

This when the IT rules clearly require these designated officers of the significant social media platforms to be employees of the company and resident in India, they pointed out.

Meanwhile, most of the large social media platforms have shared details of chief compliance officer, nodal contact person and grievance officer with the ministry, as laid down under the new rules, sources said.

Significant social media intermediaries, including Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Koo, Sharechat, Telegram and LinkedIn, have shared details with the ministry as per the requirement of the IT norms that came into effect earlier this week.

However, Twitter has not yet complied with the IT rules, they said.

After a strong response from the government on Thursday, Twitter sent a communication sharing details of a lawyer working in a law firm in India as their nodal contact person and grievance officer.

On Thursday, the row over Twitter's handling of certain messages had escalated into an all-out war of words, with the government saying the messaging platform was levelling baseless and false allegations to defame India and dictating terms to the world's largest democracy.

It started with Twitter calling the visit by Delhi Police to its offices a form of "intimidation" -- a statement which met with vociferous protests from both the government and the Delhi Police.

While the government called it "totally baseless, false and an attempt to defame India", Delhi Police said the statement was "mendacious" and designed to impede a lawful inquiry.

Twitter had marked several tweets by ruling BJP leaders on an alleged strategy document of Opposition to target the government over COVID as containing 'manipulated media', which prompted the police to visit its offices late on Monday.

Twitter said it was committed to India as a vital market, but criticised the new IT rules and regulations that it said "inhibit free, open public conversation."

The government slammed Twitter's remarks on alleged intimidation and threat to free speech and in a strongly-worded counter said the micro-blogging platform had sought to undermine India's legal system through its actions and deliberate defiance.

Under the new rules, social media companies like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter have been asked to identify within 36 hours the originator of a flagged message as well as conduct additional due diligence, including the appointment of a chief compliance officer, nodal contact person and resident grievance officer.

The Centre has said the new rules are designed to prevent abuse and misuse of platforms, and offer users a robust forum for grievance redressal.

Non-compliance with rules would result in these platforms losing their intermediary status that provides them immunity from liabilities over any third-party data hosted by them. In other words, they could be liable for criminal action in case of complaints.

After the new norms came into effect on May 26, the IT Ministry had turned up the heat on significant social media companies, asking them to immediately report compliance and provide details of the three key officials appointed.

https://www.outlookindia.com/websit...etails-with-govt-twitter-yet-to-comply/383817

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

What this means is the editors will all be pro BJP and RSS telling the world Covid 19 and black fungus are no problem in India. They will also insist China is not sitting on Indian land.

That's the point. They want to control the social media before next elections.

 

[Bi_Jamalo]

Is the virus called Wuhan virus or chinese virud routinely? If not why are variants called UK Brazilian South African or Indian variant?

India government can and should regulate what is on social media in India.

Because that double mutation of Covid originated in India and spread all over the world by the Indians.

This makes it visible to follow the pattern of a certain virus strain and how much control the Indian government have had on its spread.

India isnt powerful enough to dictate the world abt whats these viruses should be called.

 

[IAJ]

Here is a link to a first page article in one of the biggest papers in Norway;

https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/smitteutbrudd-pa-karantenehotell/73834513

Just use Google translate and you will see how many times the «Indian variant» is mentioned. This is the real World.

 

[OMB]

‘Comply with new rules or lose safe harbour: Govt to Twitter

The ministry of electronics and information technology has, as a “gesture of goodwill”, given Twitter one last notice to immediately comply with the new rules.


The ministry of electronics and information technology on Saturday sent a sternly-worded letter to microblogging platform Twitter to share compliance details with the new intermediary guidelines, all clauses of which came into effect on May 25, saying that Twitter’s refusal to follow the rules demonstrates a “lack of commitment towards providing a safe experience to the people of India”.

“Despite being in operation in India for over a decade, it is beyond belief that Twitter Inc. has doggedly refused to create mechanisms that will enable the people of India to resolve their issues on the platform in a timely and transparent manner and through fair processes,” the ministry has stated in its letter. “Users who are abused on the platform or are harassed or are subject to defamation or specula abuse or become victims go a whole range of other abusive contacts must get a redressal mechanism that the same people of India have created through a due process of law.”

The ministry has, as a “gesture of goodwill”, given Twitter one last notice to immediately comply with the new rules or lose the exemption from criminal liability available to the social media intermediary under section 79 of the Information Technology Act. Section 79 provides Twitter safe harbour or protection against any kind of criminal action for third party content posted on the platform.

The government has threatened that non-compliance with the new guidelines will result in the platform being criminally liable for third party content posted on it.

The central government has given Twitter one last chance to comply with the new guidelines notified on February 25, which direct companies such Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook to regulate content, appoint officers who will be liable for compliance, and adopt features such as traceability of messages and voluntary user verification.

The government has been in a standoff with the microblogging platform since last week when Twitter raised concerns regarding “intimidation tactics by the police” and with the “core elements” of the new social media and intermediary guidelines. Twiter’s statement prompted a strong response from the government which called the remarks an “attempt to dictate its terms”.

In a letter addressed to Jim Baker, the ministry has expressed its “dismay” over Twitter’s response to its communications indicating that it has not fully complied with the new rules. The ministry had sought details of the compliance officer, grievance redressal officer and nodal contact person from all significant social media intermediaries (which have 50 lakh users or above) on May 26. While Twitter shared the details of the last two, naming an India-based attorney, it did not share details of a compliance officer with the government.

Twitter declined to comment.

The ministry in its letter has stated that the platform has not informed about the details of the chief compliance officer and that the nodal contact person and resident grievance officer appointed by Twitter is not an employee of Twitter Inc. in India, as prescribed by the rules. It has further added that the address shared by Twitter is that of a law firm, which also is not in consonance with the new guidelines.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/comply-with-new-rules-or-lose-safe-harbour-govt-to-twitter-101622883083533.html

 

[OMB]

India says Twitter knowingly not complying with local IT laws

The Indian government has been at odds with major social media websites over a new set of sweeping regulations that give it more power to police online content. — AFP/File
The standoff between the Indian government and Twitter escalated on Wednesday when the country’s technology minister accused the social media giant of deliberately not complying with local laws.

Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Twitter has chosen “the path of deliberate defiance” when it comes to following new internet regulations that digital activists have said could curtail online speech and privacy in India.

“If any foreign entity believes that they can portray itself as the flagbearer of free speech in India to excuse itself from complying with the law of the land, such attempts are misplaced,” Prasad said in a series of tweets.

The Indian government has been at odds with major social media websites over a new set of sweeping regulations that give it more power to police online content. It requires companies to erase content that authorities deem unlawful, comply with government takedown orders, help with police investigations and identify the originators of “mischievous information”.

Under the new laws, social media websites and tech companies will also have to remove content within 36 hours after an administrative or legal order is issued. Their employees can be held criminally liable for failing to comply with the government’s requests.

Twitter said in a statement on Tuesday that it was making every effort to comply with the new regulations.

The company said it had appointed an interim chief compliance officer in India, a requirement under the new regulations, and will soon notify India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The new rules also require social media platforms to appoint what the government calls grievance officers to handle complaints from law enforcement agencies.

Prasad, the IT minister, also accused Twitter of bias and said it was labelling some content as manipulated media, “only when it suits its likes and dislikes”.

In May, leaders from Modi’s party tweeted parts of a document they said was created by the main opposition Congress Party to discredit the government’s handling of the pandemic. Some Congress leaders complained to Twitter, saying the document was forged. In response, Twitter marked some posts as “manipulated media”.

Twitter rules apply “manipulated media” tags to posts that have been “deceptively altered or fabricated”.

The new internet regulations, announced in February, are among many challenges social media companies face after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government pushed back against criticism that its new rules restrict online speech.

Modi’s government has sought for years to control social media and has often directed Twitter to take down tweets or accounts that appear critical of his party and its leaders, including his administration’s handling of the pandemic. Twitter has complied with most of those orders.

The friction has intensified recently, with the government threatening social media companies with legal action and their employees with prison time if they refuse to comply with the takedown directives.

Initially, Twitter expressed concern about what it called “the potential threat to freedom of expression” when the new rules came into effect late last month.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1629687/india-says-twitter-knowingly-not-complying-with-local-it-laws

 

[El Generico]

India says Twitter knowingly not complying with local IT laws


India needs to show Twitter their place and ban them. I know Twitter users would be then deprived of the input of users from India but that is a sacrifice we have to make.

 

[cricketjoshila]

India says Twitter knowingly not complying with local IT laws


India needs to show Twitter their place and ban them. I know Twitter users would be then deprived of the input of users from India but that is a sacrifice we have to make.

We?

Twitter has already lost its intermediary status. FIR has been registered against them. Now their executives can be held responsible and arrested for any tweets that violate the law.

 

[El Generico]

We?

Twitter has already lost its intermediary status. FIR has been registered against them. Now their executives can be held responsible and arrested for any tweets that violate the law.

By we I meant the users of Twitter who would have to miss out on the input of the Indian twitter warriors if the site is banned there.

Anyways according to the article posted above, your minister is claiming that Twitter is openly defying them. So can we expect arrests soon?

 

[OMB]

Complaint Against Swara Bhasker, Twitter India Head Over Ghaziabad Posts

Delhi Police are, however, yet to file an FIR (First Information Report) based on the complaint against Swara Bhasker, Twitter India head and others.


A complaint has been lodged in Delhi against actor Swara Bhasker, the Managing Director of Twitter India and two others over "inflammatory tweets" on the assault on a Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad earlier this month.
The police are, however, yet to file an FIR (First Information Report) based on the complaint by an advocate.

A lawyer approached Delhi Police with his complaint on Wednesday, a day after Twitter, several journalists and Congress leaders were named in an FIR in Ghaziabad over "provoking communal sentiments" with posts sharing the elderly man's allegations.

The complainant claims that Swara Bhasker, journalist Arfa Khanum and a person named Asif Khan, through their Twitter handles, "got inspired from the incident and started a propaganda to spread hate amongst the citizens". Manish Maheshwari, the head of Twitter in India, did not take any action to remove these false tweets knowing the fact that the incident did not have any kind of communal angle", the complaint says.

In the case filed by Uttar Pradesh Police, Twitter has been accused of not removing "misleading" content linked to the incident. The charges the social media giant faces include "intent to a riot, promoting enmity and criminal conspiracy".

The man, Sufi Abdul Samad, had alleged that his beard was cut off and he was forced to chant "Vande Mataram" and "Jai Shri Ram" by a group that assaulted him. UP Police say there was nothing communal about the incident; the man was attacked by six people -- Hindus and Muslims - who were angry with him for allegedly selling fake good luck charms.

Government sources said Twitter "has lost the legal shield" as it failed to comply with the new IT rules.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/complaint-against-swara-bhasker-twitter-india-head-over-ghaziabad-assault-posts-2465857

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/twitter-officials-facing-heat-over-many-issues-depose-before-parliamentary-panel-over-platform-misuse/772608

Representatives of Twitter India on Friday deposed before a parliamentary panel over the issues of misuse of the social media platform as well as the protection of citizens’ rights. Twitter representatives were issued summon by a parliamentary committee headed by Congress leader and former union minister Shashi Tharoor.

Sources said during the meeting, Twitter India representatives were asked if the company follows the law of the land. In response, Twitter officials told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology that "we follow our own policies".

Raising strong objection to Twitter India officials' observations that they abide by their policy, the members of a parliamentary panel told them that the rule of land is supreme.

The development comes at a time when Twitter is facing heat in India over several issues. The social media company has lost its intermediary status ‘for failing to comply’ with new IT rules. It is also under fire over the assault on a Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad.

The Ghaziabad Police has already issued a notice to Twitter India Managing Director Manish Maheshwari to appear before it in the case in which an FIR has been lodged. The FIR also names Twitter India.

Apart from Twitter, a news portal, several journalists and many Congress leaders have also been booked over the circulation of a video of the assault on Abdul Shamad Saifi, who had claimed that he was allegedly attacked on June 5 by some young men who were forcing him to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'. The police claimed the assault on the elderly man happened over another matter and there was no communal angle in the incident. The video was circulated, the police alleged, to create communal unrest.

Meanwhile, it may be noted that apart from Twitter, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology has also issued summons to representatives of several social media giants, including Facebook, over the misuse of the platforms and protection of citizens' rights.

As per the notice to Twitter, the agenda of the meeting is to "hear the views of representatives of Twitter followed by evidence of representatives Electronics Technology on safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms including special emphasis on women security in the digital space."

 

[Kroll]

WhatsApp blocks two million Indian accounts

WhatsApp has said it blocked over two million accounts in India in May and June for violating rules.

The service said 95% of these users were blocked for violating the limits of the number of times messages can be forwarded in India.

The submissions were made by WhatsApp in its first monthly compliance report under India's controversial new IT rules.

India is WhatsApp's largest market with about 400 million users.

The Facebook-owned messaging service said its "top focus" has been to prevent accounts in India from sending harmful or unwanted messages at scale.

Using advanced machine learning technology, WhatsApp reportedly bans close to eight million accounts across the world every month.

Two million accounts in India sending a "high and abnormal rate of messages" were banned in India alone between 15 May and 15 June, the service said.

The service identifies an Indian account as one with a +91 (country code) phone number.

The Facebook-owned app often ends up being the focus of discussions on the spread of misinformation and fake news in India.

Such fake news and hoaxes are forwarded to tens of thousands of users in hours, and its practically impossible to counter them.

Messages and videos circulating in bulk have in the past incited mob violence in India, even leading to deaths.

In addition to responding to user complaints, WhatsApp said it deployed its own tools to prevent abuse on the platform.

It said it relied on the "behavioural signals" from user accounts, or on available "unencrypted information", profile and group photos, and descriptions to identify potential offenders.

WhatsApp's submissions come at a time when tech companies are embroiled in an intensifying battle with the Indian government over the new IT rules.

The guidelines - announced in February and became effective in May - seek to regulate content on social media and streaming platforms, and have raised serious concerns about free speech and user privacy.

Critics say they give the government and law enforcement agencies powers to take down a wide range of content on the internet. But the government claims the rules are meant to prevent abuse and misinformation.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57831201

 

[gani999]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57831201

Excellent decision! The only grouse I have is that they have banned only two million accounts! They should have banned even more.

Forwarding whatsapp messages a million times is a very nasty habit that many Indians have.

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: Days after Twitter locked Rahul Gandhi’s account; the Wayanad MP accused the micro-blogging site of interfering in India’s political process.

In a video address, Gandhi said that a company is making its business to define India’s politics and as a politician, he doesn’t like that.

Saying that democracy is under attack, Rahul said that the opposition is not allowed to speak in Parliament and alleged that the media is controlled.

‘Twitter is not neutral’

“I thought there was a ray of light where we could put what we thought, on Twitter. That’s not the case. It is not a neutral, objective platform. It is a biased platform that listens to what Government of the day says,” he added.

Accusing Twitter of breaching the idea of being a neutral platform, Rahul Gandhi said taking sides in the political contest has repercussions for the micro-blogging site which is dangerous for the investors.

“This is an attack on the democratic structure of the country. This is not an attack on Rahul Gandhi. This is not you know simply shutting Rahul Gandhi down. I have 19-20 million followers. You are denying them the right to an opinion. That’s what you are doing,” the Nehru-Gandhi scion said.

The former Congress president also asked the people if foreign companies will be allowed to define India’s politics just because they are beholden to the Government of India.

“As Indians, we have to ask the question: are we going to allow companies just because they are beholden to the Government of India to define our politics for us? Is that what this is going to come to? Or are we going to define our politics on our own? That’s the real question here,” he said.

Responding to Rahul’s comments, Twitter issued a statement saying rules are enforced judiciously and impartially for everyone on our service.

Our aim is to protect individuals’ privacy and safety: Twitter

“We have taken proactive action on several hundred Tweets that posted an image that violated our rules and may continue to do so in line with our range of enforcement options. Certain types of private information carry higher risks than others, and our aim is always to protect individuals’ privacy and safety,” it said.

It further encouraged everyone using Twitter to familiarise themselves with the rules and report anything they believe is in violation.

A war of words erupted between the Congress and Twitter India on Thursday, after the micro-blogging platform reportedly blocked the party’s official handle along with the accounts of several Congress leaders.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/...india-s-political-process-rahul-gandhi/798575

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: Twitter on Saturday unlocked the accounts of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his party, a week after they were temporaraily suspended for sharing pictures of the family of a minor vicitm of alleged rape and murder in Delhi.

Last week, the microblogging stite had temporarily suspended the Congress leader's account after the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) asked it to take action against it.

The NCPCR, the country’s apex child rights body, had cited the juvenile justice law that mandates the privacy of nine-year-old victim.

The social media platform restored Gandhi's account a day after he accused it of "interfering in the national political process" and said shutting down of his handle amounted to "attack on the country's democratic structure".

In a video statement on YouTube titled "Twitter''s dangerous game", Gandhi alleged that it was not a neutral and objective platform and was "beholden to the government".

However, Twitter said it has followed the due process as Gandhi's tweet on the family of the victim was against its rules and the law.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/...is-attack-on-democratic-structure-barb/798988

 

[OMB]

16-Month-Old Koo Scores 10 Million Users, Narrows Gap With Twitter

Koo, which has benefited from the controversies and from first-time internet users who post in local languages, is targeting 100 million users in a year


Koo, India's alternative to Twitter Inc., has surged past 10 million users to narrow the gap with the US microblogging site after its repeated clashes with government over the past few months.
The 16-month-old app, which allows users to send tweet-like posts in English and seven languages such as Hindi and Kannada, has seen about 85% of its users join since February, when Twitter's disputes with PM Modi led government escalated. Ministers, opposition politicians, cricket stars and Bollywood celebrities have since begun posting in Indian languages on Koo.

Its San Francisco rival, which had 17.5 million monthly users earlier this year in India, complied with the new government rules this month after appointing new India-based executives, including one to handle compliance.

"We came into the limelight because of Twitter's tension with the government, but users soon realized they can express in their mother tongue only on Koo," said Aprameya Radhakrishna, co-founder and chief executive officer of the Bangalore-headquartered app whose formal names is Bombinate Technologies Pvt. "Our app connects English-speaking India to non-English speaking India in a country with 700 million internet users and that's powerful."

The American social media network has repeatedly clashed with the government over the content on its platform. In one example, Twitter at first resisted removing hundreds of posts critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's handling of the Covid-19 crisis, while labeling posts by ruling party officials as misleading. Police then visited its offices. A court ruled the company was in "total non-compliance" with the country's new information technology rules.

Earlier this month, Twitter buckled and told the court that it will fully comply with the rules. That included naming an India-based point person for handling compliance and grievance issues.

Tussles between authorities and another social media giant, Facebook Inc.'s WhatsApp, over India's new internet rules continue in the court.

Koo, which has benefited from the controversies and from first-time internet users who post in local languages, is targeting 100 million users in a year, Mr Radhakrishna said. The startup plans to expand in Southeast Asia, Africa, South America and Eastern Europe, into countries where English is not the dominant language.

"An Indian social media startup is taking on a global giant and has a very good chance of winning," he said.

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/twitters-india-clash-buoys-rival-koo-to-10-million-users-2523365

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: Days after 20 YouTube channels and two websites were blocked for spreading anti-India pro

New Delhi: Days after 20 YouTube channels and two websites were blocked for spreading anti-India propaganda and fake news, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday warned that the government will continue to take such action against those "hatching conspiracy” against the country.

“I had ordered for action against them.… I am happy that many big countries across the world took cognisance of it. YouTube also came forward and took action to block them,” Mr Thakur told reporters while replying to queries on the issue.

In a "closely coordinated" effort with intelligence agencies, the I&B ministry had in December last year ordered the blocking of 20 YouTube channels and two websites as they were spreading anti-India propaganda and fake news.

“And in future also, action will be taken to block any such account hatching conspiracy against India, spreading lies and dividing the society,” the minister asserted.

In a statement in December, the ministry had said that these 20 YouTube channels and the websites belonged to “a coordinated disinformation network” operating from Pakistan and spreading fake news about various sensitive subjects related to India".

The channels were used to post "divisive content in a coordinated manner on topics like Kashmir, Indian army, minority communities in India, Ram Mandir, General Bipin Rawat, etc", it had said.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/you...s-minister-2718032#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

[MenInG]

The Indian government has ordered to block 35 YouTube channels and two websites based in Pakistan, claiming that they were running "anti-India propaganda".

India's Information and Broadcasting Ministry, in a statement, said that the websites and channels had a total of 120 million subscribers and were running "fake news" on former Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, the Indian media reported on Friday.

“The YouTube channels, websites, and other social media accounts blocked by the ministry were used by Pakistan for spreading anti-India fake news about sensitive subjects related to India,” it said.

It was observed that these YouTube channels had also started posting content to undermine the democratic process of the upcoming elections in five states, the statement said.

The statement further said that some of the YouTube channels were being operated by anchors of Pakistani TV news channels.

It may be mentioned that New Delhi has been caught red-handed spreading ‘fake news’ and misinformation against Islamabad lately. In 2020, an independent non-profit organisation focused on tackling sophisticated disinformation had exposed the latest iteration of an Indian influence campaign aimed at defaming Pakistan within the EU institutions.

According to an investigation by the EU DisinfoLab, a Brussels-based NGO, a coordinated influence operation, to malign Pakistan’s reputation, was being led by the New-Delhi-based Srivastava Group and amplified by Asia News International (ANI), an Indian news agency.

The operation’s mission was to discredit nations in conflict with India in the region, in particular Pakistan and also China to a certain extent. In the long run, the campaign was aimed at bolstering India’s global perception, which would ultimately allow New Delhi to bag more support from international institutions such as the EU and the UN.

In August last year, a sustained disinformation and propaganda campaign by India and previous Afghan administration to sabotage the Afghan peace process and target Pakistan, was uncovered, showing the extent of the fifth-generation warfare.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf had revealed that many Indian and Afghan social media accounts were involved in maligning Pakistan.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2339807/india-bans-35-pakistan-based-youtube-channels-two-websites

 

[daytrader]

Twitter India bans account of Pak Embassies in UN, Turkey, Iran and Egypt

Twitter India bans account of Pak Embassies in UN, Turkey, Iran and Egypt
Twitter India banned official accounts of Pakistan Embassies in UN, Turkey, Iran and Egypt. Earlier, Twitter also withheld the account of the national public broadcaster in Pakistan - Radio Pakistan

Twitter in India banned official accounts of Pakistan Embassies in UN, Turkey, Iran and Egypt. Earlier, Twitter also withheld the account of the national public broadcaster in Pakistan - Radio Pakistan.

Twitter blocks the account of Pakistani Embassy in UN.

Account of Pakistani Embassy in Turkey is also withheld by Twitter in India.

Moreover, Twitter in India also blocked account of Pakistani Embassy in Iran and Egypt.

Twitter in India, earlier also blocked the account of Pakistani national radio broadcaster - Radio Pakistan.

After Twitter in India withheld these official accounts the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Twitter to restore these accounts with immediate access.

This development comes at a time when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting earlier blocked 16 YouTube news channels including 6 Pakistan-based channels for spreading disinformation related to India's national security, foreign relations, and public order.

According to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, YouTube channels were spreading false, unverified information to create panic, incite communal disharmony, and disturb public order in India.

The blocked social media accounts include six Pakistan-based and 10 India-based YouTube news channels, having a cumulative viewership of over 68 crore.

None of the digital news publishers had furnished information to the Ministry as required under rule 18 of the IT Rules, 2021, the government said.

YouTube channels based in Pakistan were found to have been used in a coordinated manner to post fake news about India on various subjects such as the Indian Army, Jammu, and Kashmir, and India's foreign relations in the light of the situation in Ukraine among others, it said.

The content of these channels was observed to be completely false, and sensitive from the perspective of national security, sovereignty, and integrity of India, and India's friendly relations with foreign States.

Moreover, India has earlier called out Pakistan for propagating fake news through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Pakistan is frequently lambasted by the global community due to its violation of human rights. The country also has unstable politics which is gripped by constant protests and demonstrations. And yet, as per the reports by digital forensics, Pakistan carries on with its propaganda to diminish India at world stage.

Apart from the government accounts in Pakistan, in a report by Digital Forensics, Research, and Analytics Center (DFRAC), it was revealed that many fake accounts created by Pakistanis are hiding behind the screens and running hashtags with an agenda to target India's prestigious institutions.

These Pakistani accounts blatantly spread disinformation. The crucial thing to note here is that some of these accounts were created for the sole purpose of defaming India. After pushing the agenda they changed their username.

All behind the screen who were fuelling this agenda campaign seemed to be copying each others' content to escalate the fake narrative.

https://www.business-standard.com/a...-un-turkey-iran-and-egypt-122062800058_1.html

 

[daytrader]

Indian police arrests Modi critic over tweets

Police in India have arrested the co-founder of a fact-checking website who has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

Mohammed Zubair of Alt News has been accused of insulting religious beliefs on Twitter, a network of media organisations said.

Opposition leaders and activists have condemned the arrest.

They said it was a clear attempt by the Hindu-nationalist government to clamp down on those who expose hate speech.

Mr Zubair recently highlighted comments of a spokesperson of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad during a television debate. His tweet was widely shared and led to several Muslim countries lodging strong protests with India.

In recent weeks, Hindu nationalists have drawn attention to past comments made by Mr Zubair and demanded that he be prosecuted for hurting their religious feelings.

Mr Zubair was detained over a complaint from a Twitter account that said he insulted Hindus in a 2018 post commenting on the renaming of a hotel after the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, the ANI news agency reported, citing Delhi Police sources.

Many journalists have been demanding his immediate release.

"Zubair who routinely busted fake news, exposed the hate machinery in India has just been arrested," said Rana Ayyub, a Muslim journalist.

"The country is punishing those who reported, documented the decline."

Opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Every person exposing BJP's hate, bigotry and lies is a threat to them.

"Arresting one voice of truth will only give rise to a thousand more."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-61956108

 

[pillionrider]

Zubair's arrest is literally on the lamest reason they could find. They are so pathetic, they've forgotten what pathetic is.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Zubair's arrest is literally on the lamest reason they could find. They are so pathetic, they've forgotten what pathetic is.

Zubair was the one who demanded action against Nupur Sharma citing IPC 295A. Now when he is being prosecuted under 295A for repeated insults of Hinduism, that's pathetic?

Atleast try to hide your bias.

 

[Theanonymousone]

Zubair's arrest is literally on the lamest reason they could find. They are so pathetic, they've forgotten what pathetic is.

https://twitter.com/thehawkeyex/status/1536370495733780481?s=21

Going by his tweets and not getting booked under communal incitement, India must have been really religious tolerant till now

I dont really get this, most of these people ridicule Hindu faith but when does get back the same in return, they call foul cry
Tell me who is being intolerant and extremist here

You should see the french articles on Hindu gods but it didnt receive the similar backlash vs when they published cartoons on Muslim faith?

I dont know what is the boundary for these things on the secular mindset but should be equivalent on both sides right??

 

[introvert]

Let's see what is the reason for Zubair's arrest. If arrest is done based on that hanuman hotel movie scene tweet then it's really pathetic move.

 

[pillionrider]

Zubair was the one who demanded action against Nupur Sharma citing IPC 295A. Now when he is being prosecuted under 295A for repeated insults of Hinduism, that's pathetic?

Atleast try to hide your bias.

Did your sentiments get hurt before you even read the case or were you just waiting to get hurt because he shamed and exposed the BJP spokesperson.

Nupur said what she did. Zubair highlighted it. No use blaming him for the backlash. Somehow this entire thing was painted as though it was Zubair's mistake for exposing her.

Anyway getting to the tweet, which is from 2018. Some serious digging there by the IT cell.

On June 20, a case against Zubair was registered under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language etc.) and 295A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), KPS Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Cell), said.

However, the FIR suggests that the case was registered within three hours of a tweet on June 19 at 11 pm, by an account that had just one follower at the time. Arun Kumar, the Investigating Officer, said in the contents of the FIR that he spotted the tweet and filed an FIR within three hours, by 2 am. The Delhi police in a statement said that they were alerted by a Twitter user with the name “Hanuman Bhakt” and handle “@balajikijaiin” that Zubair had made an ‘objectionable tweet’.

As Zubair was booked, many also pointed out that the 'offensive content' is an unedited screenshot of a scene from a movie titled Kissi Se Na Kehna. The 1983 film was directed by veteran Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Apparently, this was the tweet- <br><br>The same image was tweeted by others and was even published in an <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianExpress?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianExpress</a> article on similar memes<br><br>Can few Hindus please raise their voice and say aloud that this does not hurt any sentiments? <a href="https://t.co/jZI35QFtNg">pic.twitter.com/jZI35QFtNg</a></p>— Pyaar Se Mario (@SquareGas) <a href="https://twitter.com/SquareGas/status/1541454645196779520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[pillionrider]

The ugly 3 faces of hypocrisy.

 

[pillionrider]

[MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION] Who is more offensive. Zubair or Mahua?

But the BJP are too scared to set foot in Bengal after the thrashing they received there I guess...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is really the lunatic fringe. <a href="https://twitter.com/zoo_bear?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zoo_bear</a> arrested on suo moto complaint filed by SI Special cell Delhi Police On 20/6/22 for 2018 tweet by <a href="https://twitter.com/zoo_bear?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zoo_bear</a> where he retweeted photo from Hrishikesh Mukherjee 1983 movie! <br><br>Time for all hanumans to check into a honeymoon hotel. <a href="https://t.co/Qx7RgmhLWH">pic.twitter.com/Qx7RgmhLWH</a></p>— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) <a href="https://twitter.com/MahuaMoitra/status/1541532823051460609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[pillionrider]

India will throw these people out one day. Oh how sweet it will feel then.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Now who did this? &#55357;&#56834;&#55357;&#56834;&#55357;&#56834; <a href="https://t.co/KQdQQQhgzr">pic.twitter.com/KQdQQQhgzr</a></p>— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) <a href="https://twitter.com/kunalkamra88/status/1388810557290160129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[silentkiller187]

“The arrest of journalist Mohammad Zubair marks another low for press freedom in India, where the government has created a hostile and unsafe environment for members of the press reporting on sectarian issues,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, in Washington, D.C.

“Authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Zubair, and allow him to pursue his journalistic work without further interference.”

Delhi police arrested the Muslim co-founder of a fact-checking website called Alt News earlier on Monday, accusing him of insulting religious beliefs on Twitter, a network of digital media organisations had said, condemning it as an attempt to harass him for his journalism.

Alt News's other co-founder, Pratik Sinha, said on Twitter no notice was given to Zubair before his arrest.

"He is currently detained inside a police bus in Burari for more than an hour," Sinha said, referring to a Delhi neighbourhood where Zubair was to be produced before a magistrate at his residence to authorise the journalist's remand.

https://twitter.com/free_thinker/status/1541429247184515074

Zubair was arrested based on a complaint from a Twitter account that said he insulted Hindus in a 2018 post commenting on the renaming of a hotel after the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, claimed govt sources.

As per CPJ, Zubair was also one of the two journalists investigated following social media posts on June 3 in which he had criticised three right-wing Hindu activists, calling them “hate mongers”.

At the time, he was being investigated under Section 295(a) of the Indian Penal Code for “deliberate and malicious acts” intended to hurt religious sentiments.

According to an independent Indian news website Scroll.in, the high court had declined Zubair’s plea to end the investigation on June 13.

Last year, Uttar Pradesh police had also opened a criminal investigation into the journalist over his social media posts about a video depicting a group of Hindu men beating an elderly Muslim man.

As of December 2021, seven journalists have been detained in India and in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir according to the CPJ’s 2021 annual prison census. This is the highest number of detained journalists for India since 1992.

DAWN

 

[cricketjoshila]

[MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION] Who is more offensive. Zubair or Mahua?

But the BJP are too scared to set foot in Bengal after the thrashing they received there I guess...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is really the lunatic fringe. <a href="https://twitter.com/zoo_bear?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zoo_bear</a> arrested on suo moto complaint filed by SI Special cell Delhi Police On 20/6/22 for 2018 tweet by <a href="https://twitter.com/zoo_bear?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zoo_bear</a> where he retweeted photo from Hrishikesh Mukherjee 1983 movie! <br><br>Time for all hanumans to check into a honeymoon hotel. <a href="https://t.co/Qx7RgmhLWH">pic.twitter.com/Qx7RgmhLWH</a></p>— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) <a href="https://twitter.com/MahuaMoitra/status/1541532823051460609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Her time will come too. Zubair is habitual offender. His FB page was full of posts making fun of Hinduism. He deleted that page couple of weeks back.

 

[cricketjoshila]

India will throw these people out one day. Oh how sweet it will feel then.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Now who did this? &#55357;&#56834;&#55357;&#56834;&#55357;&#56834; <a href="https://t.co/KQdQQQhgzr">pic.twitter.com/KQdQQQhgzr</a></p>— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) <a href="https://twitter.com/kunalkamra88/status/1388810557290160129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Everyone has to go one day. But before they go i hope they make this country truly secular and not a appeasement politics.

 

[Rajdeep]

I am quite amazed by the hypocrisy of Mahua Moitra. Few days ago Calcutta police arrested youtuber Roddur Roy for criticizing Mamata Banerjee but not a pip from Mahua. Suddenly her heart is going out for Zubai.

Vlogger Roddur Roy booked for abusing West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee over KK's last concert

KOLKATA: A case was filed against vlogger Roddur Roy on Saturday for allegedly abusing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a Facebook live, police said.

The case was lodged under relevant sections of the IPC after a complaint was filed by TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta at Chitpur police station, they said.

"An investigation has been started in the matter as per the relevant sections of the IPC. He has been summoned as a part of the probe," he said.


https://www.newindianexpress.com/na...a-banerjee-over-kks-last-concert-2461886.html

 

[pillionrider]

Her time will come too. Zubair is habitual offender. His FB page was full of posts making fun of Hinduism. He deleted that page couple of weeks back.

You're someone who tries to talk based on the law, sometimes So... deleted pages have no relevance here. He needs to be judged on the case before us. And that is rubbish and a pathetic attempt to get even with him.

And btw, Facebook is pretty much the BJP's toy. When you delete a page, it doesn't really stay deleted for a certain period of time, depending on company policy. If such posts really exist, it would be easy to order FB to unearth them.

 

[cricketjoshila]

You're someone who tries to talk based on the law, sometimes So... deleted pages have no relevance here. He needs to be judged on the case before us. And that is rubbish and a pathetic attempt to get even with him.

And btw, Facebook is pretty much the BJP's toy. When you delete a page, it doesn't really stay deleted for a certain period of time, depending on company policy. If such posts really exist, it would be easy to order FB to unearth them.

Deleted pages is destruction of evidence. He habitually used to insult Hinduism.

When FIRs started on him, he deleted those posts.

There are a number of his posts that have been posted.

 

[James]

<b>'Extremely alarming': India blocks Pakistan govt Twitter accounts</b>

<I>Social media platforms must abide by applicable international norms, says FO</I>

The Foreign Office (FO) has raised alarm over the Indian government's policy of blocking access to information after New Delhi asked social media giant Twitter to block the accounts of Islamabad's diplomatic missions.

The FO’s spokesperson, in a tweet on Monday, expressed concern over the “diminishing space for plurality of voices and access to information in India”.

The FO deemed the practice of blocking the flow of information “extremely alarming” and stated that social media platforms must abide by applicable international norms.

The FO also urged the microblogging site to restore immediate access to accounts and ensure adherence to democratic freedoms of speech and expression.

Islamabad said that the Twitter accounts of Pakistan’s missions in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Nations were amongst the many that have been blocked.

Earlier, according to Indian media, India’s ministry of information and broadcasting had moved to block Pakistan-based social media and YouTube accounts claiming that they were responsible for spreading false information.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2363697/extremely-alarming-india-blocks-pakistan-govt-twitter-accounts

 

[cricketjoshila]

<b>'Extremely alarming': India blocks Pakistan govt Twitter accounts</b>

<I>Social media platforms must abide by applicable international norms, says FO</I>

The Foreign Office (FO) has raised alarm over the Indian government's policy of blocking access to information after New Delhi asked social media giant Twitter to block the accounts of Islamabad's diplomatic missions.

The FO’s spokesperson, in a tweet on Monday, expressed concern over the “diminishing space for plurality of voices and access to information in India”.

The FO deemed the practice of blocking the flow of information “extremely alarming” and stated that social media platforms must abide by applicable international norms.

The FO also urged the microblogging site to restore immediate access to accounts and ensure adherence to democratic freedoms of speech and expression.

Islamabad said that the Twitter accounts of Pakistan’s missions in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Nations were amongst the many that have been blocked.

Earlier, according to Indian media, India’s ministry of information and broadcasting had moved to block Pakistan-based social media and YouTube accounts claiming that they were responsible for spreading false information.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2363697/extremely-alarming-india-blocks-pakistan-govt-twitter-accounts

Mind your business. There is no law that says India has to allow pakistani propoganda.

 

[James]

Mind your business. There is no law that says India has to allow pakistani propoganda.

It’s a news story that is relevant to the OP.

 

[cricketjoshila]

It’s a news story that is relevant to the OP.

My reply was not to you. It was to the article which said

The FO’s spokesperson, in a tweet on Monday, expressed concern over the “diminishing space for plurality of voices and access to information in India”.

The FO deemed the practice of blocking the flow of information “extremely alarming” and stated that social media platforms must abide by applicable international norms

I was asking the pakistan FO to mind its business.

Sorry if i appeared rude to you.

 

[James]

My reply was not to you. It was to the article which said

The FO’s spokesperson, in a tweet on Monday, expressed concern over the “diminishing space for plurality of voices and access to information in India”.

The FO deemed the practice of blocking the flow of information “extremely alarming” and stated that social media platforms must abide by applicable international norms

I was asking the pakistan FO to mind its business.

Sorry if i appeared rude to you.

Ok bro.

 

[MenInG]

The Indian Charge d’Affaires (Cd’A) in Islamabad was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday and a strong demarche was made on the Indian government's blocking of access to the content of 80 accounts on Twitter by activating geo-blocking and censorship laws, Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

According to the communique, the list of Twitter handles includes accounts of Pakistan's diplomatic missions in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, UN-New York and the national broadcaster Radio Pakistan.

The Cd’A was conveyed that these Indian actions were against the international standards, obligations, norms, and framework of the flow of information and reflected the alarming pace of shrinking space for pluralistic voices and curbing of fundamental freedoms in India.

It was noted that the new illegal practice employed by the Indian government of regulating the internet sphere with regard to diplomatic accounts, with a clear intent to stifle dissent stood completely against the rights to access to information and fundamental freedom of opinion or expression, the statement said.

It said that the government of India has been urged to immediately reverse its actions relating to the blocking of Pakistan’s diplomatic Missions’ Twitter accounts in India.

"India must also abide by the established international norms and standards as espoused by the United Nations and also ensure the protection of fundamental freedoms and respect for dissent," the FO further said.

The hardline Modi government has launched a crackdown against its critics, arresting activists and journalists.

Prominent Indian journalist and Modi critic Rana Ayub’s Twitter handle was also blocked in India as well as columnist CJ Walerman’s account. Both have been staunch critics of the Modi government’s policies, particularly targeting the Muslims in the country.

The international human rights bodies have denounced the Indian move, expressing concerns over the shrinking space for freedom of expression in the so-called world’s largest democracy.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the Indian move, saying the blocking of accounts of Rana Ayub and Walerman was part of the new “trend of unacceptable censorship on social media”.

“This must stop! Journalists' voices are essential for democracy,” the CPJ demanded in a statement.

A top Pakistani diplomat has urged the G-7 industrial countries, which are meeting at the summit level in Germany, to demand of India to lift its “massive restrictions on information”, including all the Pakistan accounts New Delhi has blocked.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Ambassador Munir Akram, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, pointed out that India, “in another display of hypocrisy,” had signed a G7 statement to “ protect freedom of expression online and offline.”

Now, he added, the G7 has the right and responsibility to demand that India lift its massive restrictions on the information including all the Pakistan accounts Delhi has blocked”.

India directed Twitter to locally censor accounts and dozens of posts, including some referencing a report that mentioned the country's declining internet freedoms, the social media platform confirmed to AFP Tuesday.

Premier Modi's administration has been accused of stifling criticism, with rights groups sounding the alarm over growing curbs on freedom of speech in the world's largest democracy.

Last year, the government ordered Twitter to take down tweets by the US think-tank Freedom House that had discussed the detention of Indian citizens for questioning government policy on social media, and the use of internet shutdowns to stifle dissent.

The tweets were no longer available in India as of this week, along with several accounts representing Pakistan's government that had been flagged by India.

Twitter said in a statement to AFP that the removals were "limited to the specific jurisdiction/country where the content is determined to be illegal".

(With additional input from AFP)

 

[MenInG]

Sandeep Ravindranath, an Indian filmmaker, posted his latest work to YouTube in May. The video, a nine-minute fictional drama with no dialogue titled 'Anthem for Kashmir', depicts a young political activist on the lam from authorities. Indian viewers likely picked up on its numerous references to alleged extrajudicial murders in the militarised state.
In late June, YouTube sent Mr Ravindranath a note saying a government entity had complained about the film. The details of the government notice were confidential, it said, but the company was taking 'Anthem for Kashmir' offline in the country. The filmmaker wasn't surprised. "People have been thrown into prison for just Facebook posts," he says.

Kashmir has long been a sensitive subject in India, but other issues have also become electrified recently. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has grown more aggressive about rooting out cybercrimes and what it calls "fake news" on social media. Under Indian law, including rules issued in 2021, executives at companies that don't comply with content removal requests could face jail time.

Twice this year, Indian journalists have been arrested for online activities in cases that attracted international attention. The government has also moved to make Meta Platforms Inc's WhatsApp hand over information about certain encrypted chats, citing public safety concerns.

India's large and growing internet base has magnified the government's concerns about disinformation, hate speech, and other dangers online. However, critics say the recent moves are simply cover for cracking down on free speech and dissent.

India's first rules governing the internet, passed more than a decade ago under a previous government after a major terrorist attack, were drafted in a "complicated, slapdash" process, says Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia policy director for the civil rights group Access Now. Even so, they were roughly in line with those in other large democracies.

Mr Chima, like other internet watchdogs in India, says the official regulations are increasingly beside the point. "The government doesn't follow its own rules," he says. "The government doesn't follow due process. The system is rotten to the core."

This creates serious difficulties for US social media giants, for which India is a critical market, and they're putting up some resistance. WhatsApp sued in response to the requirements to turn over information. Twitter Inc. has yanked posts from PM Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party politicians and accounts over hate-speech violations. The government has flooded Twitter with requests to remove tweets and accounts, and has raided Twitter's office in New Delhi. In early July, Twitter filed a petition in an Indian court to challenge the removal orders.

Google's YouTube is huge in India, where the site has more monthly users than Twitter has worldwide. (The most recent figure YouTube shared for the country, in 2020, was 325 million monthly viewers.) The video service has struggled to overcome the specific content moderation challenges of India, with its multiple languages and complicated politics.

Last year the Indian government sent YouTube 1,670 takedown requests, more than eight times as many as the US did, according to company disclosures. Google doesn't report how often YouTube complies with such requests. "The anxiety the government has created is quite powerful," says Pamela Philipose, a veteran editor in New Delhi and the author of 'Media's Shifting Terrain', a book about Indian communications.

YouTube spokesperson Jack Malon declined to comment on 'Anthem for Kashmir'. "We have clear policies for removal requests from governments around the world," he said in a statement. "Where appropriate, we restrict or remove content in keeping with local laws and our Terms of Service after a thorough review."

India's technology ministry replied in a statement that it was following due procedure, adding that Mr Ravindranath didn't show up to a meeting on the matter. He says he didn't see how the meeting, which was scheduled after the video had been removed and would've required him to travel to Delhi, would be useful

Critics say provocative content that reinforces the political priorities of PM Modi's government seem to be immune from scrutiny-for example, The Kashmir Files, a feature released this year that's been criticised as Hindu nationalist propaganda. A lawsuit attempting unsuccessfully to stall the film's release said it included "inflammatory scenes which are bound to cause communal violence." A trailer for The Kashmir Files has been viewed more than 50 million times on YouTube.

India is less of an outlier than an indication of the approach many governments are taking toward internet regulations, says Daphne Keller, director of the Program on Platform Regulation at Stanford's Cyber Policy Center. She says the Modi government's tactic of trying to stamp out encrypted messaging and social media posts under the guise of public safety and lawfulness could spread elsewhere. "We should consider it a canary in the coal mine for other faltering democracies," Keller says. "Including our own."

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tar...-push-back-3212558#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

[MenInG]

The official Twitter account of Pakistan government has been withheld in India for a second time in recent months, according to the Indian media.

The micro-blogging site in a notice on Saturday, only visible to Indian users, said the Twitter handle (@GovtofPakistan) has been withheld in response to a 'legal demand'.

The account was reactivated a few months ago after it was suspended on the complaint of New Delhi in June.

At that time, Pakistan had urged the social media website to restore its official accounts banned in India, terming the move by New Delhi as alarming and in violation of international norms.

Several Twitter accounts, including that of Pakistani missions aboard, were withheld in India at New Delhi’s request.

The Foreign Office had confirmed that the official Twitter handles of Pakistani missions in Iran, Egypt, Turkey and the United Nations were banned in India. In addition to these bans, the official Twitter handle of state-run Radio Pakistan was also withheld in India.

Several other social media accounts, including Indian journalists critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s policies, were also banned earlier this year.

Premier Modi's administration has been accused of stifling criticism, with rights groups sounding the alarm over growing curbs on freedom of speech in the world's largest democracy.

Last year, the government ordered Twitter to take down tweets by the US think-tank Freedom House that had discussed the detention of Indian citizens for questioning government policy on social media, and the use of internet shutdowns to stifle dissent.

The tweets were no longer available in India as of this week, along with several accounts representing Pakistan's government that had been flagged by India.

Twitter said in a statement to AFP that the removals were "limited to the specific jurisdiction/country where the content is determined to be illegal".

(With input from AFP)

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

India blocks Pak-based OTT platform from streaming major events
OTT channel’s web series showed events like Babri Mosque demolition in Ayodhya, Operation Blue Star, Malegaon blast and Samjhauta Express blast, among others

ISLAMABAD: The Indian government has imposed a ban on Pakistan-based Vidly TV’s OTT platform, apps and social media accounts in India, which has been streaming historical events, the plight of minorities under growing Hindutva menace and gaining popularity among the Indian population.

The Indian government said it had blocked the Pakistan-based OTT platform named ‘Vidly TV’ for broadcasting a web series on the pretext of its contents being against India’s national security and integrity.

The Indian ministry of information and broadcasting also banned the website, two mobile apps and four social media accounts of Vidly TV by issuing an order using its emergency powers under IT Rules 2021, the leading Indian media outlets reported.

An Indian ministry official told the media that the government’s action against Pakistan-based Vidly TV followed the web series “Sevak: The Confessions.”

The OTT channel’s web series showed events like Babri Mosque demolition in Ayodhya, Operation Blue Star, Malegaon blast and Samjhauta Express blast among others. In June last year, India had banned 59 Chinese mobile applications, including the widely-used social media platforms such as TikTok, WeChat, and Helo on the same pretext of national security.

The News PK

 

[daytrader]

Twitter Shuts Delhi, Mumbai Offices, Asks Staff To Work From Home: Report
Twitter, which fired more than 90% of its roughly 200-plus staff in India late last year, closed its offices in New Delhi and Mumbai.

Twitter Inc. has shut two of its three India offices and told its staff to work from home, underscoring Elon Musk's mission to slash costs and get the struggling social media service in the black.
Twitter, which fired more than 90% of its roughly 200-plus staff in India late last year, closed its offices in the political center New Delhi and financial hub of Mumbai, people aware of the matter said.

The company continues to operate an office in the southern tech hub of Bengaluru that mostly houses engineers, the people said, declining to be identified as the information is private.

Billionaire Chief Executive Officer Musk has fired staff and shut offices around the world as part of an effort to get Twitter financially stable by late 2023. Yet India is regarded as a key growth market for US tech giants from Meta Platforms Inc. to Alphabet Inc.'s Google, which are making long-term bets on the world's fastest-growing internet arena. Musk's latest moves suggests he's attaching less importance to the market for now.

...
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/elo...-home-report-3790108#pfrom=home-ndtv_bigstory

 

[daytrader]

Google India Lays Off 453 People From Various Operations: Reports
'Google layoffs: The mail was sent by Sanjay Gupta, Country Head and Vice President of Google India, according to moneycontrol.

Tech giant Google is learnt to have sacked around 450 employees across various departments in India. The employees were reportedly informed of their termination through mail late at night on Thursday.
The mail was sent by Sanjay Gupta, Country Head and Vice President of Google India, according to moneycontrol. Hindu businessline, which also carried a report quoting its sources, reported that Google India is yet to respond to its Email sent with queries on the development.

It is not clear whether the 453 layoffs include the 12,000 job cuts announced by Google parent company Alphabet Inc. last month.

At the time, Sundar Pichai, who is CEO of Alphabet Inc., said the job cuts were made in a bid to act decisively as the company's growth slowed.

"If you don't act clearly and decisively and early, we can compound the problem and make it much worse. These are decisions I needed to make," Mr Pichai said, according to Bloomberg.

Alphabet-owned YouTube has also appointed Neal Mohan, an Indian-American, as its next CEO after its current head announced that she will be stepping down from her role to focus on "family, health, and personal projects".

...
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/goo...ons-reports-3790372#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

[MenInG]

Authorities last year shut down the internet at least 187 times in a record 35 countries – the highest number ever in a single year. India leads the global list with 84 shutdowns, 49 of them recorded in Indian-administered Kashmir.

These were the findings of a report released on Tuesday by digital rights watchdog Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition, which said governments are using internet shutdowns as “weapons of control and shields of impunity”.

India – labelled “the biggest offender” – led the watchdog’s list for a fifth consecutive year. It was, however, the first time since 2017 that India saw fewer than 100 internet shutdowns, according to the report.

“Authorities disrupted internet access at least 49 times in [Indian-administered] Kashmir due to political instability and violence, including a string of 16 back-to-back orders for three-day-long curfew-style shutdowns in January and February 2022,” the report said.

In 2021, about 80 percent of all shutdowns in India were in the disputed Himalayan region, compared with 58 percent in 2022, it added.

Kashmir is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan, who control parts of it. A decades-old popular rebellion against New Delhi’s rule on the Indian side has seen one of the world’s highest deployments of security forces in the region.

Since 2019 when India’s right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scrapped Indian-administered Kashmir’s special status, the region has witnessed an unprecedented crackdown on residents and the imposition of laws and policies which critics say are aimed at marginalising and oppressing the country’s only Muslim-majority region.

Srinivas Kodali, digital rights activist and researcher with the Free Software Movement of India, told Al Jazeera that internet shutdowns are happening in India because the government can afford to block Indian-administered Kashmir out.

“It is a form of repression. The government is telling people that unless you toe the line, you will not be allowed to be part of a normal world,” he said.

Kodali said internet shutdowns are also a form of “economic blockade”.

“We have heard so many stories about how shutting down the internet in Kashmir takes away people’s right from taking part in any trade and commerce online. It is not just about speech, it is also economic in nature. If it was just about the speech, the government has enough censorship powers,” he said.

“So, the suppression that the government is doing with the internet in India is not just a form of censorship but also a form of economic blockade. It hurts people badly. It is not just that people are being censored and silenced, it affects them economically.”

The other Indian regions mentioned in the Access Now report included the West Bengal (7) and Rajasthan (12) states – both governed by political parties opposed to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The authorities in those states responded to “protests, communal violence, and exams with disruptions that impacted the daily lives of millions of people for hundreds of hours in 2022,” said the report.

Other nations that saw a large number of internet shutdowns included Iran, Myanmar, Russia and Ethiopia.

“In 2022, under authoritarian regimes and in democracies, powermongers accelerated their use of these callous tactics, disrupting the internet to fuel their agendas of oppression – manipulating narratives, silencing voices and ensuring cover for their own acts of violence and abuse,” said Felicia Anthonio, the #KeepItOn campaign manager at Access Now, in a statement.

Al Jazeera

 

[daytrader]

Twitter blocks Pakistan govt’s account in India
Company's guidelines compel it to withhold entire accounts in response to a valid legal demand, such as a court order

NEW DELHI:
Twitter has blocked the Pakistan government's account from being viewed in India in response to a legal demand, according to a notice on the social media platform on Thursday.

The company's guidelines compel it to withhold entire accounts in response to a valid legal demand, such as a court order.

The account, @GovtofPakistan, remained available for viewing and interaction from countries such as the United States and Canada, Reuters checks showed.

Twitter as well as India and Pakistan's IT ministries did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

Twitter accused of censorship in India as it blocks Modi critics
Canadian politician, poet, an India MP and journalists are among 120 accounts that have been withheld

Twitter has been accused of bowing to government pressure in India by blocking scores of prominent journalists, politicians and activists from its platform in recent weeks.

The Indian government issued notices to Twitter to remove people in the aftermath of an internet shutdown in Punjab during the search for a fugitive Sikh separatist leader.

Twitter agreed to block more than 120 accounts, including the Canadian politician Jagmeet Singh, the Canadian poet Rupi Kaur, several journalists and an Indian MP. Twitter also blocked the handle of the BBC’s Punjabi bureau.

Jaskaran Sandhu, the Toronto-based co-founder of Baaz News, an outlet focused on the Sikh diaspora, received an email from Twitter on 21 March that said his account had been withheld in India. In the email, seen by the Guardian, no specific tweet or activity by Sandhu was cited by Twitter for its action.

“The Indian government has made it a norm to take draconian measures and crack down on dissent coming from Sikh or other minority communities,” Sandhu said. “Twitter’s actions are just another example [that imply] civil liberties and democratic rights are under attack.”

“My entire account, not any tweet, has been banned in India. It is blanket censorship. And there is absolute silence from Twitter on this.”

Freedom House, a US-based nonprofit organisation, has accused the prime minister Narendra Modi’s government of “driving India toward authoritarianism” and in 2021 downgraded India’s status from ‘free’ to ‘partly free’.

...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-in-india-as-it-blocks-modi-critics-elon-musk

 

[gazza619]

Twitter blocks Pakistan govt’s account in India
Company's guidelines compel it to withhold entire accounts in response to a valid legal demand, such as a court order

NEW DELHI:
Twitter has blocked the Pakistan government's account from being viewed in India in response to a legal demand, according to a notice on the social media platform on Thursday.

The company's guidelines compel it to withhold entire accounts in response to a valid legal demand, such as a court order.

The account, @GovtofPakistan, remained available for viewing and interaction from countries such as the United States and Canada, Reuters checks showed.

Twitter as well as India and Pakistan's IT ministries did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Express Tribune

It would be a blessing if Twitter also blocks the GovtofPak account in Pakistan.