NCPCR wants FIR on Twitter India for POCSO Act violations and denying connections with Twitter Inc

Microblogging platform Twitter and its troubles continue to mount as the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Sunday demanded an FIR to be registered against Twitter India for lying and providing false information.

NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo has claimed that when the Child rights commission approached Twitter India telling cases of child pornography and other matters concerning child welfare on social media would have to be reported to the police, as directed by the POSCO act — the Indian arm of the social media platform purposefully lied that such matters fell under the ambit of Twitter Inc, based in California, United States.

Priyank and the commission owing to the protocol initially accepted Twitter India’s version. However, upon digging around, the statutory body found that the company was lying with a plain face. The NCPCR chief remarked that Twitter Communications India has issued 10,000 shares, out of which 9,999 are owned by Twitter Inc.

The commission also found that 2 of the three directors on the board of Twitter Communications India were actually employees of Twitter Inc. Thus, making it clear as day that Twitter India was indeed related to Twitter Inc.

According to media reports, the commission has asked Delhi Police to book Twitter Communications India Private Limited under section 199 of the Indian Penal Code. Furthermore, the NCPCR has written to the IT Ministry requesting that children’s access to the social media platform be restricted for seven days until the social media platform is judged safe for children and begins to follow India’s IT standards.

“Twitter India Pvt Ltd and Twitter Inc, both have lied during the NCPCR investigation. Gave false information which is against the IPC section 199 in India. We have asked the Delhi Police to file an FIR in the matter,” said Priyank Kanoongo.

In April earlier this year, taking in view of the child sexual abuse material (CSAM) circulating online and of reports warning of a spike in users accessing such content during the lockdown, the national commission for protection of child rights had issued notices to Google, Twitter, WhatsApp and iOS, Apple India.

The commission wanted to know the policy followed by the Silicon tech giants to prevent CSAM on their platforms, the number of complaints received related to pornography and CSAM and what was their policy in dealing with such cases.

NCPCR had said that the tech companies will have to comply with the rules to remove CSAM as per relevant sections of the POCSO act.

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Reported by TFI, while all big social media companies have adhered to the new compliance IT laws of the country, it is the social media giant that is evading and dodging the Indian government after the deadline to comply with the provisions of the IT rules elapsed on May 26.

Twitter runs the risk of losing its status as an “intermediary” and may become liable for criminal action if it does not get down of its high horse and comply with the revised regulations.

The fact that the microblogging website is unnecessarily locking horns with the government whilst having no policy in place to clear its digital space of CSAM, and when questioned by the commission has the audacity to lie through its teeth should speak volumes about how sketchy the Jack Dorsey owned company is. The Delhi Police should register the FIR quickly and begin the probe.