Govt asks Twitter to dam 250 tweets/accounts for ‘provocative’ posts linked to farmers’ protest

Image Source : AP Govt asks Twitter to dam 250 tweets/accounts for ‘provocative’ posts linked to farmers’ protest
Twitter has blocked a number of accounts and tweets after the federal government requested the microblogging platform to take motion towards 250 handles and posts for holding ‘false and provocative content material’ associated to the continued farmers’ agitation, in accordance with sources. These embrace accounts of Kisan Ekta Morcha and BKU Ekta Urgahan which have hundreds of followers and have been actively concerned within the ongoing protests.
According to sources, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) directed Twitter to dam round 250 tweets/Twitter accounts that have been making ‘pretend, intimidatory and provocative tweets’ on January 30 with hashtags accusing the Modi authorities of planning farmers ‘genocide’ with none additional substantiation.
This blocking was executed on the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs and legislation enforcement businesses to forestall any escalation of legislation and order in view of the continued farmer agitation, the sources mentioned including that these tweets/accounts have now been blocked.
READ MORE: Twitter suspends over 550 accounts after tractor rally violence on R-Day
 
The sources mentioned incitement to genocide is a grave menace to public order and subsequently, MeitY ordered blocking of those Twitter accounts and tweets below Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.

When contacted, a Twitter spokesperson mentioned if it receives a “properly scoped request” from an authorised entity, it could be essential to withhold entry to sure content material in a specific nation once in a while.”
“Transparency is vital to protecting freedom of expression, so we have a notice policy for withheld content. Upon receipt of requests to withhold content, we will promptly notify the affected account holders (unless we are prohibited from doing so eg if we receive a court order under seal),” the spokesperson added. However, Twitter didn’t present particulars of the accounts/tweets that have been blocked.
Upon looking for accounts together with Kisan Ekta Morcha (@Kisanektamorcha) and BKU Ekta Urgahan (@Bkuektaugrahan) — a message saying “account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand” was displayed.
Besides these, a number of different particular person and organisation accounts, together with one in every of a media outlet and one other of a senior functionary of a separate entity, have been additionally withheld, whilst debates began on social media over the event. The growth comes within the wake of violence in Delhi on January 26 throughout a tractor parade of farmers, protesting towards the three new central agriculture legal guidelines.
The Delhi Police is presently probing the Republic Day violence, whereby it has lodged a number of FIRs and booked, amongst others, a number of farmer leaders main the protests on the nationwide capital’s borders since November-end. FIRs have been lodged towards some journalists as properly.
READ MORE: Delhi Police permits farmers’ tractor parade on R-Day, 300 Pak Twitter handles plan disruption
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