Govt warns Twitter of penal action over farmer genocide hashtags

15:04 February 03

Centre issues notice to Twitter over 'Modi Planning Farmer Genocide' tweets

New Delhi:Government has directed Twitter to comply with its order to remove contents/accounts related to farmer genocide hashtags, and warned that the microblogging platform may face "penal action" for non-compliance of its order, a news agency reported quoting sources.

"The government has issued notice to Twitter to comply with its order to remove contents/accounts related to farmer genocide. Content with (Modi Planning Farmer Genocide) hashtag was posted on Twitter which was designed to inflame passions and hatred," the sources were quoted saying, adding that the hashtag was also factually incorrect.

"Twitter unilaterally unblocked accounts/tweets despite government order for blocking. Twitter is an intermediary and they are obliged to obey the direction of the government. Refusal to do so will invite penal action," the sources added.

The sources further said: "Twitter cannot sit as an appellate authority over the satisfaction of the authorities about its potential impact on derailing public order. It is only an intermediary. Twitter may face penal action for not complying with government orders."

Twitter had restored several accounts it had "withheld" on Monday after the government had asked it to take action against 250 handles which had posted "false and provocative content" related to the ongoing farmers' agitation, reports said quoting sources.

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The withheld accounts included those of Kisan Ekta Morcha and BKU Ekta Urgahan that have thousands of followers and have been actively involved in the ongoing protests, which have now resumed online activities.

According to reports, "Twitter blocked some accounts under its 'Country Withheld Content' policy in response to a valid legal request from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology."

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) had directed Twitter to block around 250 tweets/Twitter accounts that were making "fake, intimidatory and provocative tweets" on January 30 with hashtags accusing the Modi government of planning farmers "genocide" without any further substantiation.

The development came in the wake of violence in Delhi on January 26 during a tractor parade of farmers, protesting against the three new central agriculture laws.

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The Delhi Police is currently probing the Republic Day violence, wherein it has lodged multiple FIRs and booked, among others, several farmer leaders leading the protests at the national capital's borders since the past two months.

FIRs have been lodged against some journalists as well.

(With inputs from PTI)