NEW DELHI: The government has sent a notice to Twitter for showing Leh as part of Jammu and Kashmir rather than Union Territory of Ladakh, according to sources from the IT Ministry.
The ministry, in its notice, has ordered Twitter to explain within five business days why legal action should not be brought against the microblogging platform and its representatives for disrespecting the territorial integrity of India by displaying an incorrect map.
The notice was sent to Twitter by the Ministry of Electronics and IT on November 9, the sources said.
In the notification sent to Twitter’s global vice president, the ministry claimed that showing Leh as part of Jammu and Kashmir is a deliberate attempt by the microblogging platform to undermine the will of India’s sovereign Parliament, which has declared Ladakh a Union. Territory based in Leh.
In response to the issue, a Twitter spokesperson said: “We have duly responded to the letter and, as part of our correspondence, we share a full update on the latest developments regarding the geotag issue.”
The spokesperson further said that Twitter remains committed to partnering with the government and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to serve the public conversation.
Twitter had previously shown Leh as part of China, after which the IT secretary had written a stern letter to the company’s CEO, Jack Dorsey.
In response, Twitter had replaced China with Jammu and Kashmir. However, Twitter has yet to correct the map to show Leh as part of the Ladakh Union Territory. It still shows Leh as part of Jammu and Kashmir, which is against the official position of the Government of India.
Last month, Twitter came under heavy criticism and faced backlash from social media users after its geotagging feature featured “Jammu & Kashmir, People’s Republic of China” in a live broadcast from the Hall. of Fame of Leh, a memorial to the fallen soldiers in Ladakh.
This had prompted angry responses from netizens demanding strict action against the microblogging platform.
Meanwhile, an industry observer said that in the event that Twitter fails to line up even after the latest notice, possible options could include actions initiated under Section 69A of the IT Act to ban Twitter access in India.
Additionally, under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, the government can file an FIR, which carries a penalty of up to 6 months in prison.
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