UNION IT Minister Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad’s chagrin towards social media platforms is pretty much understandable after the growing misuse of these mediums to spread fake news and unsubstantiated videos.

 

The Centre has flagged several issues to microblogging site Twitter and platforms like the Facebook for their misuse by certain elements to spread fake news and incite violence.

 

While Twitter has put up a lame defence of users exercising freedom of expression, Mr. Prasad’s reminder that ‘Article 19A allows freedom of speech but it is subject to reasonable restriction’ should settle the issue.

 

Twitter has been pretty slow in its response to the government’s request to suspend some objectionable accounts being operated from Turkey and Pakistan to create communal divide in India.

 

The violence at Red Fort on Republic Day totally exposed the deadly agenda of anti-India forces using social media to provoke farmers. Despite requests from the government, Twitter is still dragging its feet on the incident which is in contrast to the alacrity it showed during the Capitol Hill incident.

 

Such double standards cannot be allowed in the country where social media has claimed a dominant position.