Standoff on IT rules as Twitter flags concerns

NEW DELHI: Twitter on Thursday raised concerns about “intimidation tactics by the police” and “core elements” of the new social media and intermediary guidelines, becoming the third internet giant to push back against the rules for digital companies framed by the government, which reacted strongly within hours to accuse Twitter of trying to “dictate terms to the world’s largest democracy”.

The exchange was the latest in a snowballing controversy over new guidelines that direct companies such as Twitter, WhatsAapp, Facebook ,and Google to regulate content, appoint officers who will be liable for compliance, and adopt features such as tracing of messages and voluntary user verification.

Twitter’s statement comes a day after WhatsApp challenged the Union electronics and technology ministry (Meity) guidelines in the Delhi high court. Before that, Facebook on Tuesday said there were “a few issues (that) need more engagement with the government”.

On Thursday, Google’s chief executive Sundar Pichai said the company was committed to complying with local laws and to working with governments around the world, while adding that a free and open internet was “foundational” .

The government defended the rules afresh as the pushback mounted. Union minister for electronics and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said the guidelines were designed to prevent the “abuse and misuse” of social media. But Twitter saw it differently. “To keep our service available, we will strive to comply with applicable law in India. But, just as we do around the world, we will continue to be strictly guided by principles of transparency, a commitment to empowering every voice on the service, and protecting freedom of expression and privacy under the rule of law,” the firm said.