The tiff between Twitter and the Government of India has taken a serious turn. Many handles in the social networking platform originating from foreign shores are suspected of promoting the farmers’ protests with unacceptable hashtags like genocide. The Government has asked Twitter to takedown 1178 accounts and Twitter after suspense-filled two days complied in case of 500 accounts. Twitter has declined to take down accounts of politicians, journalists and civil society activists.
Social Networks have become the new champions, upholding the values of democracy around the world. However, its power is like a two-edged sword, which can also cause great harm to elected governments anywhere in the world. However much the assault of Capitol Hill was by the US President Trump supporters, blocking the president’s account by Jack Dorsey of Twitter and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook signifies the rise of parallel powers. These network behemoths can cause to do or undo any situation or any event around the world. Dorsey is an on-record donor to the Democratic Party of the US.
Democracy and freedom of speech are very important, but social networks seem to have a deeper agenda. They are oblivious of serious human right violations, be it the genocide of the Rohingyas by the Myanmar army, or the millions of Uighurs incarcerated by the PLA of China. It seems the platforms take on softer targets like India, which espouses open society and considerable freedom of speech and expression. The few arrests of journalists or activists find protection from our independent judiciary.
In the recent past, our efforts to establish alternative models to social networks have bit dust. Patanjali started Kimbho app, spreading that app with nationalistic fervour and claiming that Kimbho is hack proof. To its dismay, the app was hacked within hours and was ridiculed and quietly withdrawn.
The Government now boasted of Koo, an alternative to Twitter. Many ministries, its officials switched over to Koo in the last few months. Much to its dismay, Koo’s funding by the Chinese, who gained access to the users’ data has just been revealed by a US hacker. The Indian Government hurriedly tried to hush up the news in vain. On the contrary, the Chinese have banned Google, Facebook and WhatsApp and have alternative platforms and search-engines for long.
Fake and dangerous news was once limited to the darknet, but occupy mainstream social media like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. It is so easy to violate the posting protocols, often by switching to vernacular. The reaction by the networks is tardy and slow, by which time much damage is done. A classic example is the happening on the 26th January at Delhi and its aftermath.
Personal and political leanings of Mark or Jack have come under the scrutiny of the US Congress and other countries. An alternative may not be an easy answer, as a Government promoted platform could also be vulnerable to the same disorders witnessed now. Arresting Twitter officials is a knee-jerk and pathetic option but it is time to tame the network vandals, which is a better option.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
