A source in India's IT ministry @GoI_MeitY on blocked tweets/ @TwitterIndia accounts: "MeitY directed Twitter to block around 250 tweets/ Twitter accounts which were using a hashtag and making fake, intimidatory & provocative tweets on Saturday, January 30." 1/2

“This was done on the request of Ministry of Home Affairs and law enforcement agencies to prevent any escalation of law and order in view of the on-going farmer agitation," @GoI_MeitY source on blocked Twitter accounts/ Tweets. 2/3

“Incitement to genocide is a grave threat to public order and therefore the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MEITY) ordered for blocking of these Twitter accounts and Tweets under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act,” @GoI_MeitY source on blocked Twitter accounts. 3/3

India's IT ministry ( @GoI_MeitY) has issued a notice to Twitter ( @TwitterIndia) asking it to explain how/ why it unblocked the accounts it was asked to block for 'inflaming passions, hatred & factually incorrect.' https://twitter.com/Bhuvanbagga/status/1356197006440603649?s=20

India's @GoI_MeitY to @TwitterIndia: "This is motivated campaign to abuse, inflame and create tension in society on unsubstantiated grounds.

Incitement to Genocide is Not Freedom of Speech; It is Threat to Law & Order.

Delhi Had Witnessed Violence on Republic Day."

. @GoI_MeitY to @TwitterIndia: "Twitter Unilaterally Unblocked Accounts/Tweets Despite Govt. Order for Blocking.

Twitter is an intermediary and they are obliged to obey direction of Govt. Refusal to do so will invite penal action."

Key takeaways/ points from @GoI_MeitY's notice to @TwitterIndia.

-Says free speech diff from law/order
-Twitter an intermediary.
-Obliged to follow authorities.
-Refusal to invite penal action.
-Twitter not an appellate body to judge state directives. https://twitter.com/Bhuvanbagga/status/1356893025792909312?s=20

A curious situation emerging between Indian govt and Twitter over the last few days.

Twitter hasn't yet fully complied with previous order to block 257 links/accounts, govt has ordered them to block 1178 more for "misinformation & provocative contents on farmers protests." 1/n