Suspended over 22K accounts, took action against 133 posts: Twitter report

In its first grievance redressal report submitted in accordance with India's new IT norms, Twitter informed that the micro-blogging platform has suspended 22,564 accounts for "child sexual exploitation and non-consensual nudity" and "promotion of terrorism". It also took action against 133 posts for harassment, privacy infringement and other reasons between May 26, 2021, and June 25, 2021. The data also includes complaints from individual users with accompanying court orders.

"We receive complaints in our Grievance Officer - India channel that relate to account verification, account access, or seeking assistance or information regarding an account or Twitter's enforcement actions that are not included in the data below. The majority of complaints received in this channel during this reporting period fell into these categories," the report said. "In addition to the above data, we processed 56 grievances which were appealing Twitter account suspensions. These were all resolved and the appropriate responses were sent. We overturned 7 of the account suspensions based on the specifics of the situation, but the other accounts remain suspended."

Twitter has also appointed Vinay Prakash as its Resident Grievance Officer (RGO) in India. A public policy expert, he is expected to ease the situation between Twitter and the IT Ministry, now led by new Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Twitter had informed the Delhi HC only last week that it shall be making the appointment as demanded by the new IT rules in eight weeks.