Govt calls out Twitter over its ‘manipulated media’ tag for Toolkit tweets, asks to remove it
“Such tagging by Twitter appears pre-judged, prejudiced and a deliberate attempt to colour the investigation by local law enforcement agency,” govt said in a strong communication to global Twitter team.
New Delhi: The Centre on Friday objected to Twitter for using ‘manipulated media’ for tweets on Toolkit, which is aimed at defaming government’s Covid-19 efforts.
Government has called it “prejudicial, a clear overreach and unwarranted.”
Dashing off a letter to the global Twitter team, the Ministry of Electronics and IT has strongly objected to the use of the “manipulated media” tag on “certain tweets made by political leaders, reports said.
In a strong communication, the MeiyT said while the law enforcement agency is conducting investigation and is yet to confirm or doubt the veracity of document, the Twitter unilaterally drew a conclusion and tagged it as ‘manipulated media’.
TV Journalist Aishwarya Kapoor shared a document, apparently issued by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Communications, entailing the directions/suggestions handed out to Twitter global team in a letter.
Government of India Objects to Twitter for Using “Manipulated Media” Tag For Tweets On Toolkit to Defame Government’s COVID19 Efforts.
@rsprasad #Twitter #Toolkit pic.twitter.com/GJrXHmCcaN— Aishwarya Kapoor (@aishkapoor) May 21, 2021
“Such tagging by Twitter appears pre-judged, prejudiced and a deliberate attempt to colour the investigation by local law enforcement agency,” the Ministry said.
Twitter tagged Patra’s tweet as ‘manipulated media’
After the Congress toolkit snowballed into major controversy, party leaders had urged the Twitter to remove tweets by Sambit Patra and other BJP leaders and suspend their accounts permanently, claiming that they were “spreading misinformation and unrest in society”.
Following this, a “Manipulated Media” tag appeared below Mr Patra’s tweet.
Friends look at the #CongressToolKit in extending help to the needy during the Pandemic!
More of a PR exercise with the help of “Friendly Journalists” & “Influencers” than a soulful endeavour.
Read for yourselves the agenda of the Congress:#CongressToolKitExposed pic.twitter.com/3b7c2GN0re— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) May 18, 2021