‘India’s online censorship not aligned with US view of freedom of speech’

Days after Twitter and other social media platforms removed content related to the COVID-19 pandemic in India following a government order, the White House said the move was not aligned with America’s view of freedom of speech around the world.

Twitter and other social media platforms have taken down around 100 posts and URLs after the government asked them to remove content that was critical of the handling of the current medical crisis or spreading fake news around the pandemic.

“That certainly wouldn’t be aligned with our view of freedom of speech around the world,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki replied when a reporter said the Indian government ordered Twitter and Facebook to block social media posts on its handling of the pandemic and sought her response.