Twitter blocks some accounts, Modi govt unhappy

The stand-off between Twitter and the government continues with the microblogging platform saying on Wednesday it had complied in part with the government’s directive by suspending 500 accounts flagged by MeitY and blocking access to several others within India. Twitter, however, said it has not blocked handles of civil society activists, politicians and media as “it would violate their fundamental right to free expression” guaranteed by the country’s law. In a blog post, Twitter said that it will continue to support the right to free expression of its users; it added it is actively exploring options under Indian law both for Twitter and the accounts that have been impacted.

Legal experts believe the matter is headed to court as Twitter being an intermediary is bound by the law of the land and cannot interpret freedom of speech and expression on its own. “If every intermediary starts interpreting the law on its own, then there would be chaos,” cyber law expert, Pawan Duggal told FE. According to Duggal, Section 69A of the IT Act gives government supreme powers to interpret law and order, security, sovereignty, etc of the nation and, based on its views, it can issue directions to intermediaries, who are bound to follow them. “If any intermediary has a problem, it can approach the court, that’s the only way out. Let the court decide whether the law is right or not,” Duggal said.