‘Censorship’ suit hits Alibaba’s Ma
An Indian court has summoned Alibaba and its billionaire founder, Jack Ma, in a case regarding a former employee in India who says he was wrongfully fired after objecting to what he saw as censorship and fake news on company apps, according to legal filings.
The case comes weeks after India cited security concerns in banning Alibaba’s UC News, UC Browser and 57 other Chinese apps following a clash between the two countries’ forces on their border.
Following the ban, which China has criticized, India sought written answers from all affected companies, including whether they censored content or acted for any foreign government.
In previously unreported court documents dated July 20, the former employee of Alibaba’s UC Web division, Pushpandra Singh Parmar, alleges the company censored content seen as unfavorable to China and that UC Browser and UC News showcased false news “to cause social and political turmoil.”
Civil Judge Sonia Sheokand of a district court in Gurugram, a satellite city of India’s New Delhi capital, has issued summonses for Alibaba, Ma (right) and about a dozen individuals or company units, asking them to appear in court or through a lawyer on July 29.
The judge has also sought written responses from the company and its executives within a period of 30 days, according to a court summons.
Alibaba representatives did not respond to requests for comment from the Chinese company or on behalf of Ma.
“We are unable to comment on ongoing litigation,” UC India said in a statement.
Parmar, who worked as an associate director at the UC Web office in Gurugram until October 2017, is seeking $268,000 in damages. He referred Reuters queries to his lawyer, Atul Ahlawat, who declined to comment.
The court case is the latest hurdle for Alibaba in India after the