Mantri warning to Twitter, others to follow Indian rules
‘Will face penalty if social media misused’
In a stern warning to social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and WhatsApp, the Narendra Modi government on Thursday told them from the floor of Parliament that while it respects their work, they must abide by the Indian Constitution and follow Indian laws. Amid an ongoing row with Twitter, which erupted over the ongoing farmers’ protests and Red Fort violence, information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, replying to queries in the Rajya Sabha, made it clear that while the government has immense respect for the social media as it has empowered citizens and plays an important role in the government’s Digital India mission, but if it is misused to spread violence, fake news or hatred, strict action will be taken. The minister said while social media platforms have their selfregulatory mechanisms to check and evaluate inflammatory content, it does not mean they will not follow Indian rules.
The Rajya Sabha also saw Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu disallowing AAP member Sushil Gupta from quoting a Sweden-based institute’s report on Indian democracy, saying such reports are political and these institutes and countries which are commenting on India should “look inward and then comment”. Mr Venkaiah Naidu’s comments came at a time when India has
strongly objected to foreign celebrities and politicians using social media platforms to support the farmers’ protests and criticise the Narendra Modi government.
“We respect the social media, it has empowered the common man and plays an important role in the Digital India campaign. We respect criticism, you can criticise the PM or the government, which are a part of the Constitution. But if the social media is misused to spread violence, fake news or hatred, then action will be taken… Even the EC has said this regarding the misuse of social media for influencing elections… You (social media) work in India, you have millions of followers, we respect that. Earn money but you will have to abide by the Indian Constitution and follow Indian laws,” said Mr Prasad, replying to supplementaries on the social media manipulation of public opinion and media manipulative survey.
Mr Prasad’s statement on the Rajya Sabha floor came a day after his ministry rebuked Twitter for not complying with its orders to take down inflammatory content after the Republic Day violence and the farmers’ unions’ protests.
The government, he said, was committed to the freedom of the media and the rights of individuals but it was equally concerned about safety, security, and law and order in the country.
Equating the Red Fort violence on the Republic Day with the United States Capitol Hill riots, Mr Prasad said while the social media companies took immediate action when riots erupted on Capitol Hill in Washington, they failed to take similar action when the farm bill protesters ran riot at Red Fort on the Republic Day.