Twitter response on withholding Twitter accounts for inciting violence in India

Twitter Statement on the new development of withholding many Twitter Accounts in India used to incite violence.

The Twitter Says, ‘if we receive a properly scoped request from an authorised entity, it may be necessary to withhold access to certain content in a particular country from time to time’. – @TwitterIndia.

Earlier,

Ministry of Electronics and IT (MEITY) directed Twitter to block around 250 Tweets/Twitter accounts which were using #ModiPlanningFarmerGenocide hashtag & making fake, intimidatory & provocative Tweets on Jan 30.

India’s Information and Technology ministry directs twitter to block 250 tweets/Twitter accounts under section 69A of IT act over provocative and intimidatory tweets on Saturday.

Twitter suspends 250 tweets and accounts for Incitement of Genocide during Farmers Riots

Incitement to genocide is a grave threat to public order & therefore the Ministry of Electronics & IT ordered for blocking of these Twitter accounts & Tweets under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. Twitter has blocked these Tweets/Twitter Accounts: Sources said to ANI

Here is the official statement and what Twitter has to say:

On-record statement (attributable to a Twitter spokesperson)

“Many countries have laws that may apply to Tweets and/or Twitter account content. In our continuing effort to make our services available to people everywhere, if we receive a properly scoped request from an authorized entity, it may be necessary to withhold access to certain content in a particular country from time to time. Transparency is vital to protecting freedom of expression, so we have a notice policy for withheld content.

Upon receipt of requests to withhold content, we will pro tly notify the affected account holders (unless we are prohibited from doing so e.g. if we receive a court order under 11 seal). More information can be found here.”