India fears a virtual crackdown on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hints at an exit from social media

• Modi didn’t state the reason behind doing so. And, the post left thousands of questions unanswered.
  
• Modi has 53.3 million followers on Twitter, 35.2 million on Instagram and 44.7 million on Facebook.
  
• Congress leader and MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor feared that the abrupt announcement may lead to banning social media throughout the country.
  

On March 2, PM Narendra Modi posted on social media that he’s thinking of “giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.” With 53.3 million followers on Twitter, he is among the most followed political leaders in the world. He didn’t state the reason behind doing so.


And, the post left thousands of questions unanswered. Government officials told Economic Times that they are as unaware as the rest of the world and Modi might add more to it in a day or two.



“This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube. Will keep you all posted," PM Modi tweeted.

This Sundayhere refers to March 8 — which is also International Women's day. PM Modi may make a major announcement on the important date (March 8) about social media.

Congress leader and MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor feared that the abrupt announcement may lead to banning social media throughout the country.


Moreover, the BJP government has taken an adversarial position against big data companies.

"Internet has emerged as a potent tool to cause unimaginable disruption to the democratic polity, it was felt that the extant rules be revised for effective regulation of intermediaries keeping in view the ever growing threats to individual rights and nation's integrity, sovereignty, and security,” IT Ministry earlier said.

Further, the government wants to revise the existing rules for intermediaries or social media apps and platforms that rely on users to create their content, such as TikTok, Instagram et al Sources indicated that PM Modi might switch on to a new swadeshi social media platform and may also request his supporters to follow it.

There were also rumours about a homegrown social media platform doing rounds in BJP, reported IANS.

The Twitter was left divided with some following his cue of quitting social media while others thought he is running away from giving statements on crucial issues like the 3-day clashes in Northeast Delhi over Citizenship Amendment Act.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi suggested Modi to give up “hate speech” rather than social media.



Whereas India today editor Rajdeep Sardesai said “how prepared we are to deal with coronavirus, how to revive the economy, we are now speculating why PM Modi may quit social media”.



Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri and Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, who is under the scanner for inflammatory statements made during Delhi elections, retweeted the post.

(with inputs from agencies)

See also:
India's privacy bill seeks access to users' data from companies
Indian data laws have an uncanny resemblance to Russia’s 'new' internet and China’s 'Great Firewall'