ISLAMABAD — In special reference to occupied Kashmir, the UN SpecialRapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, has criticizedIndia for expanding the scope of its censorship tools and efforts, at theexpense of individual rights to freedom of expression, access toinformation, freedom of association and other fundamental human rights.
According to Kashmir Media Service, David Kaye, the UN Rapporteur, posted aletter addressed to Twitter’s Chief Executive Jack Dorsey, asked theTwitter to explain the suspension of accounts posting Kashmir-relatedcontent amid reports that the micro-blogging platform gave in to multiplecensorship requests from the Indian government.
The letter is in connection with reports of suspension of multiple tweetsrelated to Kashmir or users “for posting or sharing Kashmir-relatedcontent” since 2017 when the Valley was choked in the aftermath of BurhanWani’s killing.
Reminding the Twitter founder of his “responsibility to respect the humanrights of its users,” the UN Rapporteur has asked him to reveal courtorders on tweet removal or suspension of accounts related to Kashmir sinceJuly 2017, the number of requests by the Indian government agencies forsuch actions along with the compliance rate.
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According to Twitter’s Removal Requests report, India made 144 removalrequests, of which 800 accounts were specified from July 2017 to December2017 and 17 accounts and 32 tweets were withheld.Earlier, from January 2017 to June 2017, India made 104 removal requests,but Twitter did not withhold any accounts or tweets during that period, theletter states.
The UN Rapporteur has asked Twitter to explain the “legal, policy or otheranalysis” that led the social media platform to withhold tweets or accountsrelated to Kashmir in response to government requests.