The users are the ones who have been booked under UAPA
NEW DELHI – Microblogging site Twitter has informed some of the prominent social media users that it is going to give information related to them to Tripura Police as demanded from the company. These users are the ones who have been booked under the stringent provisions of UAPA and other laws for their posts over Tripura’s anti-Muslim violence.
The users, who are journalists and activists, have put out the notices received from the social media giant informing them about their decision to submit their details to the police.
“Dear Twitter user: We are writing to inform you that Twitter has received the attached legal process, dated November 3, 2021, regarding your Twitter account, @ShyamMeeraSingh. This legal process obligates Twitter to produce information related to your account,” reads the notice sent to journalist Shyam Meera Singh.
“One of our core values is to defend and respect the user’s voice. Accordingly, it is our policy to notify users of requests for their account information prior to disclosure unless we’re prohibited from doing so,” it further said.
Tweeting about it, Singh said “This is an open abuse of the power of the state to infiltrate the privacy of its citizens”.
When anti-Muslim violence broke out in Tripura months ago, Singh had tweeted: “Tripura is burning”. There were others who also commented on Tripura violence. After that, Tripura Police booked over 100 people under the UAPA or unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Some of them moved the Supreme Court for relief from coercive action by the state against them. The apex court restrained the Tripura Police from taking action against Singh and two lawyers. Yet, Twitter decided to give details to them.
Samiullah Khan, activist and journalist, also received notice from Twitter informing him about their decision to give information to the police. The notice to Khan is similar to what Singh has received.
Reacting to it, Khan said: “This is extremely shameful, violation of privacy and abuse of power by Tripura government against the activists, journalists and writers. Instead of arresting the Bajrang Dal goons who attacked Muslims, vandalized mosques, burnt the holy Quran, provoked peace & trampled the law & order, Tripura police targeting Civil-Society!”.
Australian journalist CJ Werlemen, who regularly comments on violence against Muslims, also received similar notice from Twitter. He reacted to it by calling the action “bullshit”.
“You’re caving to the fascist Indian regime and aiding its effort to intimidate me and other journalists who accurately reported Hindutva perpetrated attacks Muslims in Tripura, recently!” said Werlemen posting the screenshot of the Twitter’s notice.
He also posted the letter written by the police to Twitter Inc. asking the social media site to block accounts and provide information about their admin.
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