Government Blocks @HindutvaWatchIn Twitter Account, Citing Violation of Information Technology Act

In a move that has sparked controversy, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India has blocked the Twitter account @HindutvaWatchIn, which serves as an archive documenting attacks against religious minorities in the country. The action was taken under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. The ministry, however, has not disclosed the specific content that allegedly violated the law. The founder of Hindutva Watch, Raqib Hameed Naik, received an email notifying him of the account’s suspension, stating that X (Twitter) had received a legal removal demand from the Government of India.

The blocking orders, shrouded in confidentiality, have raised concerns over the lack of transparency in the process. The ministry or agency that recommended the account’s suspension remains unknown, and there is uncertainty about whether other social media accounts or websites have faced similar actions. According to the Blocking Rules 2009, the designated officer is required to make “reasonable efforts” to identify the hosting entity of problematic content and offer them an opportunity to present their case before the Section 69A blocking committee. However, it is unclear whether this specific blocking order was issued as an emergency measure.

Raqib Hameed Naik, founder of Hindutva Watch, has expressed his concerns over the lack of clarity surrounding the reasons for blocking the account. While Indian law mandates platforms like Twitter to withhold access to content deemed in violation, the exact nature of the alleged violations remains undisclosed. The move has reignited debates on freedom of expression and the transparency of government actions, prompting further discussions on the need for a more open and accountable process in such instances of content restriction.

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