Twitter agrees to block fake PMO accounts

Twitter has agreed to block all fake accounts having resemblance to the Prime Minister’s official account - PMOIndia, after the government put forth a 12-hr deadline. Reportedly, the government had asked Twitter to remove offensive content, else it would be shut from the country. This bit of information comes in as an update to an earlier report, which stated that the PMO asked the Cyber Security Cell of the Department of Information and Technology to block these six Twitter accounts, since in all possibility the fake accounts could be mistaken for the real one and lead to serious consequences. At the time, it had also been reported that the issue, is now about two months old and had been referred to Twitter first, but since nothing moved post that, the matter went in to the hands of the Cyber Security Cell. Quoting sources, reports at the time stated that, “these accounts contained certain content having communal overtones and it could be dangerous.”

Twitter to block fake PMO accounts

This episode, however, has no connection with the recent chronology of events, wherein websites with objectionable content are being shut to curb communal tension in the country. PMO’s decision in this respect came after seeking for relevant legal opinion and looking at the pertaining clause in the IT Act. 

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Reports the day before suggested that the government had warned Twitter of legal action after the latter failed to co-operate with its attempts to remove webpages carrying offensive content targeting those from the northeast. Reports went on to add that the government received a rather delayed response from Twitter, and this was partly attributed to the fact that the company does not have its offices in the country. 

This move, however, pertains to the recent NE exodus that grabbed headlines in the nation. The Centre has begun to come down heavily on the channels it believes are playing a role in triggering fear and leading to the exodus. It has been found that morphed images and videos were uploaded to these websites with an aim to incite the Muslim community in the country. Currently, as many as 310 web pages have been blocked and according to some Home ministry officials, the rest will follow suit soon. 

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