Twitter had temporarily blocked some accounts earlier this week.
Twitter may face action if it does not comply with the government's orders, the centre said today, stressing the social media giant "unilaterally unblocked" accounts and tweets - linked to a hashtag about farmers' protest - despite its order.
The social media giant "cannot assume the role of (a) court and justify non-compliance," the government said today in a statement. "Twitter being an intermediary is obliged to obey the directions as per satisfaction of authorities as to which inflammatory content will arouse passion and impact public order. Twitter cannot sit as an appellate authority over the satisfaction of the authorities about its potential impact on derailing public order," the statement read.
More than 250 Twitter accounts were blocked on Monday for tweeting, or retweeting, with the #ModiPlanningFarmerGenocide hashtag, and making "fake, intimidatory and provocative tweets" in connection with the ongoing farmers' protest.
The crackdown came amid growing outrage on social media platforms over the clashes between Delhi Police and farmers on Republic Day. In particular, the death of a farmer at the ITO junction in central Delhi was highlighted by several journalists and activists.
"The said order was communicated to you on 31-1-2021 at around 3:00 PM. It is unfortunate that though the said order was communicated by us and received by you immediately, you chose not to comply with the same till almost the time fixed for the meeting of the Committee as contemplated under Rule 9, i.e. 1.2.2021 at 3 pm. The offending handles / hashtag were blocked only a few minutes before your Advocate appeared before the Committee, on 1.2.2021 at 3 pm. It is thus clear that, the offending tweets / hashtag remained in public domain and must have been tweeted and re-tweeted several times at the risk and cost of public order and at the risk of incitement to the commission of offences," the government statement read.
"The Ministry is in receipt of your reply dated 01.02.2021, wherein Twitter declined to abide and obey the order issued by the Government of India. Before adverting to the facts at hand, it is necessary to lay down the statutory framework. It may be noted that as per Indian law, with which Twitter is bound to comply, Twitter is an "intermediary" as defined under Section 2[1][w] of the Information Technology Act and provides a platform wherein opinions of persons are communicated across the world and are open for all to see," the centre said.
