Days after Twitter India listed Ladakh as part of the People’s Republic of China, a panel of parliamentarians on data protection said on Wednesday that the clarification offered by the microblogging website is “inappropriate.”
Twitter India officials were questioned by the Parliamentary Joint Data Protection Committee following a major controversy that erupted after a distinguished member of the India-based think tank Observer Research Foundation pointed out that Twitter India listed Jammu and Kashmir as party of the People’s Republic of China. .
The committee was unanimous in its view that Twitter’s explanation was inappropriate, panel chair Meenakshi Lekhi told the news agency. PTI. The BJP deputy added that showing Ladakh as part of China amounted to a crime that could lead to jail time for up to seven years. Lekhi added that Twitter authorities said he respects India’s sensibilities.
“But this is inappropriate. It is not just a matter of sensitivity. It goes against the sovereignty and integrity of India,” the report quoted her as saying.
Officials who appeared before the panel on behalf of Twitter India included Shagufta Kamran, Senior Public Policy Manager, Ayushi Kapoor, Legal Counsel, Pallavi Walia, Policy Communications, and Manvinder Bali, Corporate Security. In particular, officials from the Ministry of Electronics, Information and Technology and the Ministry of Law and Justice were also removed from office before the panel.
“So @Twitter has decided to reconfigure the geography and declare Jammu and Kashmir part of the People’s Republic of #China. If this is not a violation of the laws of #India, what is it? Citizens of India have been punished for much less. But US Big Is technology above the law? “Gupta wrote on Oct. 18, pointing to Telecommunications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Several netizens also called on Prasad and the government to take action against Twitter India. “No @Twitter, this is not a fluke,” Gupta said in another tweet.
After the uproar on social media, a Twitter India spokesperson confirmed to News18 last week that the tag came about as a result of a “glitch,” which was resolved.
Twitter India spokesperson told News18: “We became aware of this technical issue on Sunday, and we understand and respect the sensitivity surrounding it. The teams have worked quickly to investigate and resolve the geotag issue in question. “
(with PTI inputs)
.
