NCW directs Twitter to remove pornographic content within a week, demands Delhi police for probe

New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday directed the micro-blogging platform to remove "all pornographic and obscene" content within a week. NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma also wrote to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to investigate the matter and take appropriate legal action.

"The NCW has taken suo motu cognisance of several profiles on Twitter sharing pornographic content. Chairperson Ms Rekha Sharma has written to Managing Director, Twitter India for immediately removing all such pornographic and obscene content from the platform within a week," the women's panel said in a statement.

The NCW move comes a day after Delhi Police registered a case against Twitter for child pornographic content following a complaint by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). The police action was taken amid an ongoing tussle between the Centre and Twitter over the new IT rules and according to officials the NCPCR complaint pertains to the alleged display of child pornographic content on the social media site.

"The Commission is disturbed with the fact that despite knowing of the availability of such banned content which not only violates Indian laws but also Twitter's policy, no action has been taken till date towards removing it," said the statement.

The statement further said that the Commission has shared with Twitter details of few profiles sharing pornographic content on Twitter and has directed to remove all such content within one week. "The platform has also been asked to communicate action taken within 10 days."