Twitter is is trouble for not following the new IT Rules implemented by GOI from 25th May this year. Twitter is the only social media platform in India which has not yet implemented the guidelines suggested as per new IT rule. The immunity given by the Indian law to social media platform has removed due to non compliance. Now case can be registered against them for not following the compliances on offensive content on their platform.
Let me tell you that Ghaziabad police have registered an FIR against 9 people including Twitter India and 2 Congress leaders. The twitter is in trouble and FIR has been registered for giving communal colour in this case. It is alleged that Twitter did not take any action or remove the communal tweet despite the police clarify the matter completely. In this case Police has registered an FIR against Mohammad Zubair, Rana Ayyub, Salman Nizami, Maskoor Usmani, Shama Mohammad, Saba Naqvi, The Wire, Twitter Communication India Pvt Ltd and Twitter INC in the case.
What could be the consequence of not following new IT Rule by Twitter
All social media platforms are provided immunity under section 79 by the central government. As per this immunity, the social media platform is not responsible for the use of their platforms for any criminal activities. The company could not be made a party in such case. This protection was given to Twitter as well. To enjoy this immunity social media platforms ask to follow New IT Rules implemented by Government of India from 25th May 2021. Now twitter is in trouble due to non compliance of all IT rules.
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Under the new IT rule, the government had asked social media companies to appoint a Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) within a month to resolve user complaints. In the absence of appointment, the government had warned them of removing the protection under section 79. Most of social media platform in India has followed the New IT Rule and appointed the CCO. Only Twitter India has not followed all guidelines and lost the immunity under section 79. After this the first FIR has been lodged against Twitter on 15th June.
What is the compliance status as per new IT rules: Twitter is in Trouble
After initial rift with government Twitter India agreed to accept some of the new IT rules. Twitter has appointed an interim Chief Grievance Officer on Tuesday as per the new guidelines. Twitter will soon share its details with the central government about his CCO. Twitter has taken this step to appoint CCO only when the government gave the last chance to follow the guideline. But there are many rule still pending to follow and that’s why twitter is in trouble. Since twitter has not followed all rules, the government doesn’t want to offer any immunity unless they agree to follow all guidelines asked by ministry of information and technology.
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Let me tell you that Twitter has its own version for not following the New IT Rules. When people approached them, the twitter clarifies its stand unofficially. They said that new IT rules will suppress the freedom of expression. The new rules will also violate the user privacy when platform will start reading users messages. It is also difficult for platform to read millions of messages and remove offensive content as per new law. Although government does not agree with twitter logic and they said new rules will not violate the user privacy. It mean twitter is in trouble unless they agree to new IT rules.
What is this case all about and why Ghaziabad police file an FIR against Twitter
The Ghaziabad Police of Uttar Pradesh had registered an FIR after a video of elderly man named Abdul Samad went viral. In this video, the victim was assaulted and molested by some people in Loni area of Ghaziabad district. This video purposely circulated on social media to give it a communal colour. The Ghaziabad Police file a case against 9 people who tried to promote this video on social media platform with wrong intention. Twitter is in trouble along with 9 more accused registered in this case.
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Let me tell you that local police found this video false and manipulated in its investigation. They said that the truth of the matter is different to what was presented in social media. As per police, the victim had given some talismans to the accused for better results in is life. But when accused did not get the results he carried out the incident and assaulted the victim. After this authorities reported the issue with twitter for corrective action. But Twitter India did not take any action and keep the content available on platform without tagging this as “manipulated media”. The police also said that the victim has not mentioned in his FIR that he is been forced to raise slogan “Jai Shri Ram. Victim has also not mentioned that his beard was cut forcefully during the incident.
Why this issue is getting hot in UP Politics: Twitter is in Trouble
Let me tell you that politics already started on this incident from both the side of power. UP Assembly election is on the corner and every political party want to use this incident for political milage. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said, “Such cruelty is shameful for both society and religion. He tweeted that I am not ready to believe that true devotees of Shri Ram can do this. Such cruelty is far from humanity and is shameful for both society and religion. Similarly other political parties in UP too using this incident.”
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UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath responded to Rahul Gandhi tweet and said, “The first lesson of Lord Shri Ram is to speak the truth, which you have never done in life. You should be ashamed that even after telling the truth by the police, you are engaged in spreading poison in the society.” Other BJP leaders also strongly reacted against Rahul Gandhi on his tweet. This political rift between political parties will continue till UP election. But twitter is in trouble due to different reason.