'Action dilutes platform's credibility': Centre warns Twitter for tagging BJP Leaders' Tweets as ‘manipulated media’

New Delhi, May 22: Ministry of the Electronics and IT has come heavily on social media giant Twitter for flagging BJP leaders Submit Patra's toolkit tweet as a ‘manipulated media’. The government not only slammed Twitter but has also warned social media not to interfere in the investigation process. Ravishankar Prasad-led ministry said that the social media to remove these tags asserting that it is up to investigative authorities and not Twitter to determine the veracity of the toolkit. It further added that it cannot pass its judgment while the matter is under investigation.

 

In the stern letter, govt lashed out at Twitter and called taken by them is prejudged, prejudiced, and a deliberate attempt to color the investigation by the local law enforcement agency. The Ministry further termed such unilateral action by Twitter as an effort to influence the fair investigation process and a clear overreach, which is unwarranted.

It further criticized Twitter and said such content moderation by Twitter puts a question mark on its status as "Intermediary".

“Ministry of Electronics and IT has further stated in its communication that Twitter unilaterally chose to go ahead and designate certain tweets as ‘Manipulated’, pending investigation by the law enforcement agency. This action not only dilutes the credibility of Twitter as a neutral and unbiased platform facilitating the exchange of views by the users but also puts a question mark on the status of Twitter as an “Intermediary”,” they added.

 

This comes after Jack Dorsey owned Twitter labeled BJP leader Sambit Patra's 'toolkit expose' tweet as 'manipulated media after congress wrote to twitter asking them to permanently suspend the accounts of BJP leader. 

 

 

Congress said, "senior functionaries of the BJP were “grossly misusing” Twitter and this has led to large-scale dissemination of false information and has the potential to cause social unrest in the country.”

 

In the tweet, Sambit Patra posted a ‘Toolkit’ document with hashtag #CongressToolKitExposed and said, the document was prepared to malign the image of the Modi government, as manipulated media. "Friends look at the #CongressToolKit in extending help to the needy during the Pandemic! More of a PR exercise with the help of ‘Friendly Journalists’ & ‘Influencers’ than a soulful endeavor. Read for yourselves the agenda of the Congress,” he said in the tweet.

 

This is not the first time Twitter is being biased. It is high time that the central government should take strict action against social media giants as "Punishment cravers do not understand talks." Government should take this incident as a golden opportunity and should start focusing on homegrown apps like Koo.

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