India directs Twitter to remove content, accounts related to farmer genocide hashtags

The Indian government has directed Twitter to comply with its order to remove content and accounts related to "farmer genocide hashtags" and warned the microblogging platform may face "penal action" for non-compliance of the order, sources said.

Government sources said Twitter had "unilaterally unblocked" more than 250 accounts and tweets despite specific order for blocking. Twitter is an "intermediary" and is obliged to obey the direction of the government, they said, adding that the platform may face penal action for not complying with government orders.

The government notice quoted more than half a dozen Supreme Court judgments, including of constitutional benches, as to what public order is and what the rights of authorities are.

Information Technology Ministry sources said Twitter cannot assume the role of court and justify non-compliance.

On January 30, the Ministry of Electronics and IT directed Twitter to block around 250 tweets/Twitter accounts that were making "fake, intimidatory and provocative tweets" with hashtags accusing the government of planning farmers' "genocide" without any further substantiation.

The hashtag campaign, the sources said, was "found to be instigating people to commit cognizable offences in relation to public order and security of the state".