Twitter Blocked 1,122 URLs Up to June on MeitY Directions, MoS IT Says

The variety of Twitter URLs blocked on the IT Ministry’s instructions stood at 1,122 within the present 12 months as much as June, Parliament was knowledgeable on Wednesday.

In line with the target of making certain open, secure, trusted and accountable web for all customers, the IT Ministry issued instructions “to Twitter to block URLs, including accounts under the provision of section 69A of the IT Act, 2000,” Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The minister gave a year-wise break up of Twitter URLs blocked by the IT Ministry, which pegged the quantity for 2022 (until June) at 1,122.

This in comparison with 2,851 Twitter URLs blocked in 2021, 2,731 (2020) and 1,041 (2019) and 225 (2018).

As per the information cited, the numbers have risen between 2018 and 2021.

“Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 empowers the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to block information in any computer resource in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above,” Chandrasekhar stated.

For blocking of data, the ministry follows the due course of as specified within the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.

“MeitY does not maintain data regarding the period of existence of accounts that were suspended by Twitter,” the minister stated.