View: It’s time to tame the social media beast

Twitter’s management has reportedly declined an invitation by the parliamentary department-related standing committee (DRSC) on information technology to discuss the issue of ‘safeguarding citizens’ rights on social/online news media platforms’. Many commentators have been backing Twitter. They see the social media company’s behaviour as a ‘snub’ to the government being goaded by right-wing, hyper-nationalist elements.

It should be noted, however, that these DRSCs, which have representations from all political parties in Parliament, are one of the few truly bipartisan institutions in the country. The committee decides on subjects for study by conducting avote among committee members from across the political spectrum, not just from BJP. If anybody is being snubbed here, it is the Indian Parliament, not the Narendra Modi govt.