Indians Angry Over Twitter Map Showing J&K, Ladakh Outside India

In an outrageous incident, Twitter may likely get slapped with government action for using the wrong map of India, which shows Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh a separate country. Twitterati believes that Twitter is making a deliberate attempt to upset Indians. The map is seen on the “Tweep Life” section of Twitter and J&K, Ladakh appears outside India. After one suer flagged the wrong map image, innumerable angry reactions popped in stating that it is a betrayal to Indians.

It is reported that the government may take severe action. The incident happens amid the ongoing standoff between the government and Twitter over a plethora of issues from the tagging of BJP leaders’ posts as “manipulated media” to new rules for social media sites.

The simple thing to understand here is if the business house behaves in line with the law of the land, then they can do business and it is the duty of the Government of India to protect it. If the business house behaves in contravention of Indian laws, then they cannot do business in India, and it is the duty of Government of India to prevent them from doing business in India. But if the business house indulges in false propaganda against India and the Indian Government in foreign locations then it is the duty of the Indian diplomacy and Government to thwart their nefarious design and nip them in the bud.

The current guidelines state that if the government asks the intermediary to take down posts, then they must oblige. The new guidelines are likely to strengthen the procedures so companies cannot say they are an intermediary and escape responsibility. Legal experts said the row between Twitter and the government is more a question of rule of law than a free speech issue. Earlier, Twitter had flagged “freedom of expression” concerns while responding to the new rules, which include appointing India-based compliance officers. Yesterday, after Dharmendra Chatur quit, Twitter has now appointed its US-based Global Legal Policy Director Jeremy Kessel as the grievance officer for India.

With all the political and Indian map issues, netizens demanded that the only solution is to block Twitter in India and arrest all those associated with Twitter in India. “Let the Government action be in form of heavy penalties, which serve as a lesson to all these giants earning from Indians,” said one user.