Indian government warns Twitter over non-removal of accounts tweeting about ‘farmer genocide’

The Indian government has sent a notice to social media platform Twitter warning it of penal action of non-compliance of its order to remove certain accounts and tweets that alleged ‘farmer genocide’ in India.

The notice was issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology after Twitter on Monday restored nearly 250 accounts that were blocked earlier in the day, following a complaint by the ministry.

Twitter has been bombarded with hashtags ‘#ModiPlanningFarmerGenocide, which, as per the government of India was designed to induce hatred.

“The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology [Meity] had passed an interim order dated 31.01.2021 as a matter of emergency blocking 257 URLs and 1 hashtag under section 69 A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (hereinafter referred to as the act) and Rule 9[1] of the Information Technology [Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public] Rules, 2009,” the ministry said in its recent order.

The ministry went on to add that incitement to genocide is not freedom of speech but a threat to law and order.

The government also pointed out that Twitter unilaterally unblocked accounts and tweets despite the government order. It said that Twitter is an intermediary and is obliged to follow the instructions of the government and refusal to do so will attract penal action.

Twitter had replied to the ministry on February 1, declining to abide by the order issued by the government.

The government has now read out the rule book to Twitter by stating: “Before adverting to the facts at hand, it is necessary to lay down the statutory framework. It may be noted that as per Indian law, with which Twitter is bound to comply.”

The notice said, “Twitter is an “intermediary” as defined under Section 2[1][w] of the Information Technology Act and provides a platform wherein opinions of persons are communicated across the world and are open for all to see.”

On January 31, MeiTY has passed an interim order for blocking more than 250 Twitter accounts and 1 hashtag under Section 69 A of the IT Act, 2000.

The order was issued on the grounds that these accounts and hashtags were spreading misinformation about the protests and had the potential to lead to violence.