Twitter failed to comply with IT rules; it deliberately chose path: IT Minister
After Twitter lost its status as an intermediary platform in India due to non-compliance with new IT rules, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that it deliberately chose the path of non-compliance despite getting multiple opportunities.
IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said it was astounding that Twitter, which portrays itself as the flag bearer of free speech, defies rules. Perplexing that Twitter fails to address users' grievances and flags manipulated media based on its likes and dislikes, said IT Minister.
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Taking to Twitter, he wrote; "Indian companies be it pharma, IT or others that go to do business in the USA or in other foreign countries, voluntarily follow the local laws. Then why are platforms like Twitter showing reluctance in following Indian laws designed to give voice to the victims of abuse and misuse?"
Also Read | Twitter loses its status as intermediary platform in India due to non-compliance with new IT rules
"What happened in UP was illustrative of Twitter’s arbitrariness in fighting fake news. While Twitter has been over-enthusiastic about its fact-checking mechanism, its failure to act in multiple cases like UP is perplexing and indicates its inconsistency in fighting misinformation," Ravi Shankar Prasad added.
He further said that "There are numerous queries arising as to whether Twitter is entitled to safe harbour provision. However, the simple fact of the matter is that Twitter has failed to comply with the Intermediary Guidelines that came into effect on the 26th of May."
"The rule of law is the bedrock of Indian society. India’s commitment to the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech was yet again reaffirmed at the G7 summit," he said.
"However, if any foreign entity believes that they can portray itself as the flag bearer of free speech in India to excuse itself from complying with the law of the land, such attempts are misplaced," he concluded.
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