Twitter suspends over 500 accounts spreading misinformation in India, then reverses its decision

By Susan Ampers

• India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) requested Twitter to block more than 500 accounts inciting violence and spreading misinformation against the government across the nation.
• Twitter temporarily blocked hundreds of accounts but changed its decision upon analyzing that the order violates the freedom of expression.
• The social media giant lifted the temporary block of the accounts belonging to news websites and protest activists within hours of suspension.
• Farmers in India protest against the government and the protest activist accounts continue to be available outside of India.
• More than ten thousand farmers rallied on New Delhi, India’s national capital, since November protesting three agricultural reforms passed by the Indian Congress, which affected farm price and labor protections.
• However, New Delhi is still with its decision that the reforms are made to help both farmers and consumers.
• Nonetheless, Twitter had not taken any action accounts that belong to news media entities, journalists, activists and politicians.
• Indian government, however, issued a more serious warning to Twitter for disobeying the law.
• It cited the nation’s Section 69A, which allows ‘punishment with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fines.’
• India’s government is firm on its order that Twitter must accede to the law to restrain the spread of misinformation and provocative contents related to the farmers’ protests.
• Meanwhile, New Delhi had tweeted that the social media giant had reached out to MEITY for a meeting.

Additional Info:

Breitbart News: Twitter Blocks over 500 Accounts at India’s Request, then Changes Course

The Straits Times: Twitter blocks hundreds of India accounts amid farmers’ protest