Twitter-Twatter

Told to take down farm genocide hashtags

The government on Wednesday came down with sledgehammer on Twitter ordering it to immediately take down handles and hashtags that suggested a farmer genocide was being planned, saying such misinformation and inflammatory content will incite passion, and impact public order.

It also warned Twitter of penal action in case it failed to comply with its directive.

It is understood that in a strongly-worded notice to Twitter, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had on January 31 asked the micro-blogging site to block 257 URLs (web addresses) and one hashtag for "spreading misinformation about (farmer) protests.’’ Twitter chose to sit over the request for one full day before blocking them, only to unblock them a few hours later.

This was not taken kindly by the government and a fresh order has been issued asking Twitter to comply, failing which penal action may be taken under sections that provide for fine and jail up to 7 years.