Why is #TwitterBanInIndia trending?
Twitter was earlier asked by IT ministry about its error of showing its geotagging feature displayed "Jammu & Kashmir, People's Republic of China".
Now, the government has asked Twitter to respond within "five working days" as to why it showed Leh as part of Jammu and Kashmir instead of a separate Union Territory.
Also Read | Dhanteras 2020: PM Modi, Amit Shah, Sukhbir Singh Badal greet the nation
According to the sources, if Twitter doesn't respond or if it's not "satisfactory", the government has several options, it will either block access to Twitter under the Information Technology Act, and a police case can be filed with up to six-month imprisonment.
In the notice, the government said showing Leh as part of Jammu and Kashmir was a "deliberate attempt by Twitter to undermine the will of sovereign parliament of India which had declared Ladakh as a Union Territory with its headquarters in Leh"
"Twitter remains committed to partnering with the government of India and the Ministry of Electronics and IT to serve the public conversation. Duly responded to the letter and as part of our correspondence, shared a comprehensive update with latest developments regarding geo-tag issue," Twitter spokesperson said.
Last month, Twitter came under heavy criticism and faced backlash from social media users after its geotagging feature displayed "Jammu & Kashmir, People's Republic of China" in a live broadcast from Leh's Hall of Fame, a war memorial for fallen soldiers in Ladakh.
Also Read | Navy's fifth Scorpene-class submarine Vagir launched in Mumbai
This had also triggered angry responses from netizens who demanded that stringent action be initiated against the micro-blogging platform.
Meanwhile, another source said that if Twitter does not fall in line even after the latest notice, possible options could include action initiated under Section 69A of the IT Act for banning access to Twitter in India.
Also, under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, the government can lodge an FIR, which has punishment of up to 6 months of imprisonment.
-PTC News
