Twitter representatives on Friday appeared before a parliamentary panel that had called the social media giant to discuss the issue of safeguarding citizens’ rights and preventing misuse of online platforms.
The parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, heard their views on the subject.
Top officials of Twitter are being called at a time when the government has clashed with the American social media giant over a range of issues including its stand on the new IT rules.
“We appreciate opportunity to share our views before Standing Committee on IT. Twitter stands prepared to work with the Committee on important work of safeguarding citizens’ rights online in line with our principles of transparency, freedom of expression, and privacy,” Twitter spokesperson said after the meeting, as per ANI report.
Twitter, which is yet to comply with the Centre’s new social media intermediary guidelines, was told it is not above the law of the land.
At the meeting, Twitter India was represented by its legal counsel Ayushi Kapoor and senior manager for public policy Shagufta Kamran.
Responding to the questions, the officials said Twitter would provide written response and that they aren’t the competing authority.
To this, they were asked who then was the competent authority to answer questions posed by the parliamentary panel.
On non-compliance with the government’s interim guidelines, Twitter said it is working on the issue. However, sources said, the two officials could not give a specific date by when the compliance will be ensured.
