IT Minister Talks About Twitter's Future In India After Microblogging Firm Fails To Abide By New Laws

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad revealed that all the social media platforms have complied with the new IT laws and have appointed the grievance, compliance and nodal officers as announced by the government but Twitter has failed to do so. He further spoke about the future of Twitter in India

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Twitter has failed to abide by the new IT Laws

New Delhi: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad spoke exclusively to ABP News over the new IT rules and revealed that all social media platforms are ready to abide by the rules except Twitter.

The Union Minister said that Twitter will have to follow the new rules to operate in India. Ravi Shankar Prasad, "If you want to do business in India you will have to follow the constitutional laws, else you can go back to your own country and leave your userbase here."

Prasad further said that we do not pay much heed to the criticism when it comes to following the laws and Twitter which has at least 9 crore users should also cooperate with the government and follow the decision taken by the centre.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also clarified that we are not going to interfere in anybody's private life and read their messages, but the government wants to stop the terrorist attacks, harassment of women, violence, religious riots, and many other incidences which can hamper the national integrity.

Ravi Shankar Prasad also issued a warning to the foreign companies doing business in India that they will have to abide by the constitution. Prasad said, "living in a democracy doesn't mean you are permitted to do anything, there are certain rules which need to be followed, the same way you follow the laws in America."

On being asked about what is the future of Twitter in India as they have deputed the same person, a lawyer, as the grievance officer, compliance officer, and nodal officer, Ravi Shankar Prasad said that what they have done are against the rules as they should have deputed their employees in the three positions and not a lawyer. As Twitter has failed to abide by the rules, the Central government will ponder on the issue and make a decision, the IT minister said.

Prasad also commented on Twitter's statement over Delhi Police visiting their offices in India and said that all the employees are safe and police reached the office of Twitter to gove a notice and even received a response that we should speak to the administration in the USA as the employees have no rights to handle such issues.