Farmers’ Protest: Supporting Social Media Accounts Suspended

X Says Government Required It to Take Down the Accounts

Newsreel Asia Insight #148
March 2, 2024

Dozens of social media accounts on X, previously known as Twitter, have been suspended in India due to their support for farmers’ protests, according to a media report. The censorship is being seen as a crackdown on dissent ahead of the upcoming general elections.

X has not provided specific reasons for the suspensions but stated it had to comply with local laws that could impose severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for not acting on certain accounts and posts, according to a report published by Scroll.in which first appeared on Context, powered by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Despite complying, X has said it disagrees with these actions.

“The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment,” X said in a statement. “In compliance with the orders, we will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone.”

X added, however, that “we disagree with these actions and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts.”

“Consistent with our position, a writ appeal challenging the Indian government’s blocking orders remains pending. We have also provided the impacted users with notice of these actions in accordance with our policies. Due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders, but we believe that making them public is essential for transparency. This lack of disclosure can lead to a lack of accountability and arbitrary decision-making,” X warned.

It’s the first time X has publicly addressed Indian regulations on online content since its acquisition by Elon Musk in 2022, the report notes.

Digital rights groups see X’s statement as a sign of resistance against the Indian government’s orders, highlighting the significant risks companies face for non-compliance under the Information Technology Rules of 2021, says the report. These rules grant authorities greater control over online content and pose risks to platforms’ protections if they fail to comply.

India, with nearly 24 million X users, has issued numerous content removal orders and data requests, making it one of the countries with the highest number of such requests.

The suspension of accounts can be seen as part of a larger pattern of digital surveillance and control. The action raises significant concerns about the state’s role in regulating online discourse and the impact on civil liberties.

Freedom of expression is a foundational pillar of democratic societies, allowing for the exchange of ideas, accountability and governance. The censorship of dissenting voices, particularly those advocating for marginalised communities, undermines the democratic process by limiting public discourse. It not only silences specific individuals or groups but also sends a chilling effect across the digital public sphere, deterring others from expressing dissenting views.

Protesting farmers are advancing towards Delhi, demanding a legal guarantee for the minimum support price, among other demands, while police in Haryana are blocking their entry into the national capital. At least three farmers have reportedly lost their vision due to the Haryana police’s use of pellet guns.

The farmers’ demands include the government committing to purchase an expanded list of 23 crops at a minimum guaranteed price.

A report by Human Rights Watch says: “The Haryana government imposed temporary restrictions on internet services in seven districts in an apparent attempt to disrupt the farmers’ protests, a tactic the Indian government often uses for political purposes… Most of these accounts, including some barred on Facebook, belong to journalists reporting on the protests, farmers union leaders, and others supporting the farmers’ actions.”

It adds, “On February 21, Shubhkaran Singh, a 24-year old farmer, died of a bullet wound to the head after police repeatedly fired on protesting farmers in the area bordering Punjab and Haryana states.”