'Ban Twitter' chorus begins - here is why
- IndiaGlitz, [Friday,February 05 2021]
Earlier in the month, a hashtag named 'Modi Planning Farmer Genocide' was trended by several users across India and in other parts of the world (allegedly). There have been attempts to sow the seeds of division between Hindus and Sikhs in the context of the farmers' protests. So much so, the government of India recently asked 250 Twitter accounts to be suspended for propagating the lie that Modi is organizing a genocide. When Twitter revoked the suspension unilaterally, the government started mooting penal action against the micro-blogging platform.
Amidst all this, there is a view that India should ban Twitter if it continues to provide platform for anti-India forces' propaganda. Columnist Aarti Tikoo Singh said, Apart from common people, Twitter has given space to Pakistani jihadis, Khalistanis, Maoists and other deadly forces against India. Across the world, democracies have banned platforms of terrorists. Why shouldn’t our government BAN Twitter for committing subversion against India?
Twitter, like Facebook and other social media platforms, is an intermediary that hosts content but doesn't curate content. That said, it also selectively bans people. Donald Trump has been banned, but several genocide-loving handles have been allowed to exist.
Several voices are now demanding that Twitter should be made to oblige to the Indian laws. If not, the government should ban it right away.