India asks Twitter to remove 1,178 accounts ; Govt sources

NEW DELHI: India has asked popular micro-blogging website Twitter Inc to remove 1,178 accounts; which the country says are allegedly backed by Pakistan by sympathizers of a separatist Sikh movement; two technology ministry sources said on Monday.

India’s security agencies said some of the accounts, operated from outside of the country.

The order also involved the Twitter accounts of some supporters of the movement for an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan.

Many of these accounts were sharing and amplifying misinformation and provocative content on the ongoing farmers’ protests, the source added.

Twitter has yet to comply with the government order, which has issued on Feb. 4, the sources said.

Protesting Farmers Emoji Liked By Jack Dorsey

Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorsey also kicked up a storm in India last week after he liked a tweet; suggesting the company should consider introducing a farmer protest emoji.

India’s IT ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“If the content violates Twitter’s Rules, the content will remove from the service,” the company said in a statement.

“If it is determined as illegal in a particular jurisdiction; but not in violation of the Twitter Rules, we may withhold access to the content in the location only.”

Twitter Refusal

Twitter earlier this month also refused to comply with an Indian government directive to block more than 250 accounts and posts;

A move that has put the social media giant at the center of a political firestorm in one of its key markets.

Moreover; Twitter did not confirm or deny;

whether it had complied with the government’s latest order; but said it reviews content under its rules and local laws; when it receives a legal request about potentially illegal posts.

The U.S. social media firm also said it carefully reviews legal requests which may be seeking to restrict freedom of expression.

Tens of thousands of farmers have camped on the outskirts of India’s capital for months; demanding the withdrawal of new agriculture laws.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government says the reforms open up new opportunities for farmers.

In addition that; It takes extra care to review requests related to journalists or political speech.

However; Farmers are protesting in demand of the withdrawal of new agriculture laws they say benefit private buyers at the expense of growers.