Twitter has restored several accounts it had withheld for tweeting false and provocative content related to the ongoing farmers’ agitation.
Several individual and organisational accounts were withheld and Kisan Ekta Morcha (@Kisanektamorcha) and BKU Ekta Urgahan (@Bkuektaugrahan), both having followers in thousands were also among those accounts.
According to Twitter, when an account is withheld it means the social media platform was compelled to withhold the entire account specified (e.g, @username) in response to a valid legal demand, such as a court order.
Twitter has blocked some accounts under its Country Withheld Content policy in response to a valid legal request from the Government. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) had directed Twitter to block around 250 Twitter accounts that were making fake and provocative tweets on January 30.
However, in a meeting with the government officials, Twitter has conveyed that the accounts and tweets in question constitute free speech and are newsworthy and restored them.