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Tag: Twitter

Crypto link posted from Modi’s Twitter account hacked as hackers target PMO

By Online Desk

The official Twitter account of Prime Minister Narendra Modi fell prey to a hacking attempt in the early hours of Sunday. The issue came to light after the PM’s official account on Twitter, @narendramodi, tweeted out at 2.24 am on December 12 saying the country “has officially adopted bitcoin as legal tender.”

“India has officially adopted bitcoin as legal tender. The government has officially bought 500 BTC and is distributing them to all residents of the country,” the hacked account’s tweet read. Multiple screenshots of this tweet, which has since been deleted, have appeared on the social networking site within seconds of its posting.

Screengrab of the tweet sharedby PM Narendra Modi’s accountwhile it was compromised.Many users were quick to point out the possibility of a hack though there was confusion about the news itself, given the PM’s affinity towards delivering shock news at dramatic hours. Decisions about the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes and the recent Covid 19 lockdowns were delivered in a similar dramatic fashion, albeit through television.

The Prime Minister’s Office within an hour responded and issued a clarification regarding the hack. The verified Twitter account of PMO, @PMOIndia, tweeted out saying PM Narendra Modi’s Twitter account ‘was briefly compromised.’

“The Twitter handle of PM @narendramodi was briefly compromised. The matter was escalated to Twitter and the account has been immediately secured. In the brief period that the account was compromised, any Tweet shared must be ignored,” said the PMO’s clarification on the micro-blogging site.

The Twitter handle of PM @narendramodi was very briefly compromised. The matter was escalated to Twitter and the account has been immediately secured.In the brief period that the account was compromised, any Tweet shared must be ignored.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 11, 2021
The latest hack of the PM’s Twitter account follows last year’s hacked post on another official account of his, @narendramodi_in, that asked his followers to donate Bitcoin to the PM National Relief Fund for Covid 19.

The tweet by @narendramodi_in, which is linked to the PM’s website, read, “I appeal to you all to donate generously to PM National Relief Fund for Covid-19, Now India begin with crypto currency. Kindly Donate Bitcoin…” This, too, was followed by a probe by Twitter.

December 11, 2021
Crypto link posted from Modi’s Twitter account as hackers target PMO

By Online Desk

The official Twitter account of Prime Minister Narendra Modi fell prey to a hacking attempt in the early hours of Sunday. The issue came to light after the PM’s official account on Twitter, @narendramodi, tweeted out at 2.24 am on December 12 saying the country “has officially adopted bitcoin as legal tender.”

“India has officially adopted bitcoin as legal tender. The government has officially bought 500 BTC and is distributing them to all residents of the country,” the hacked account’s tweet read. Multiple screenshots of this tweet, which has since been deleted, have appeared on the social networking site within seconds of its posting.

Screengrab of the tweet sharedby PM Narendra Modi’s accountwhile it was compromised.Many users were quick to point out the possibility of a hack though there was confusion about the news itself, given the PM’s affinity towards delivering shock news at dramatic hours. Decisions about the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes and the recent Covid 19 lockdowns were delivered in a similar dramatic fashion, albeit through television.

The Prime Minister’s Office within an hour responded and issued a clarification regarding the hack. The verified Twitter account of PMO, @PMOIndia, tweeted out saying PM Narendra Modi’s Twitter account ‘was briefly compromised.’

“The Twitter handle of PM @narendramodi was briefly compromised. The matter was escalated to Twitter and the account has been immediately secured. In the brief period that the account was compromised, any Tweet shared must be ignored,” said the PMO’s clarification on the micro-blogging site.

The Twitter handle of PM @narendramodi was very briefly compromised. The matter was escalated to Twitter and the account has been immediately secured.In the brief period that the account was compromised, any Tweet shared must be ignored.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 11, 2021
The latest hack of the PM’s Twitter account follows last year’s hacked post on another official account of his, @narendramodi_in, that asked his followers to donate Bitcoin to the PM National Relief Fund for Covid 19.

The tweet by @narendramodi_in, which is linked to the PM’s website, read, “I appeal to you all to donate generously to PM National Relief Fund for Covid-19, Now India begin with crypto currency. Kindly Donate Bitcoin…” This, too, was followed by a probe by Twitter.

December 11, 2021
Congress limited to Twitter space, not bothered about building strong Opposition alliance: TMC mouthpiece

The editorial clarified that the TMC would continue to bolster its strength, while keeping the “doors of alliance with the Congress open”.

October 28, 2021
SC notice to Twitter official on UP’s plea against quashing of notice in communally sensitive case

By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from former Twitter Managing Director Manish Maheshwari on an appeal of the Uttar Pradesh government against the Karnataka High Court’s decision to quash a notice seeking his personal appearance as part of the probe into a communally sensitive video uploaded by a user on the microblogging site.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, and issued notice to Maheshwari, who has been transferred to the USA by his employer Twitter Inc in August.

“We issue notice. We need to hear the case,” said the bench which also comprised justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli.

Earlier, the state government, which has filed the plea through Senior Superintendent of Police of Ghaziabad, had on September 8 mentioned its appeal for an urgent hearing.

The plea challenges the July 23 order of the Karnataka High Court quashing the notice issued to Maheshwari to appear before the police and cooperate in the probe related to uploading of a communally sensitive video on Twitter.

The Karnataka High Court has interfered with the summons issued to the then Twitter Managing Director by the Uttar Pradesh Police, the law officer had said.

Holding the notice as “mala fide”, the high court had said the notice under Section 41(A) of the CrPC should be treated as Section under 160 of CrPC, allowing the Ghaziabad Police to question Maheshwari through virtual mode, at his office or his residential address in Bengaluru.

Section 41 (A) of the CrPC gives power to police to issue a notice to an accused to appear before it when a complaint is filed and if the accused complies with the notice and cooperates, then he is not required to be arrested.

Maintaining that the provisions of the statute under Section 41(A) CrPC should not be permitted to become “tools of harassment”, it had said the Ghaziabad Police did not place any material which would demonstrate even the prima facie involvement of the petitioner, though the hearing has been going on for the past several days.

“In the background of the fact that section 41(a) notice was issued by mala fide, the writ petition (filed by Maheshwari seeking quashing) is maintainable.

Accordingly, the notice under section Annexure A notice shall be read as section 160 of the CrPC,” the high court had said.

“The action of the respondent (Ghaziabad Police) trying to invoke section 41(A) of the CrPC gives no doubt in the mind of court that the same has been resorted to as an arm-twisting method as the petitioner refused to heed to the notice under section 160 of the CrPC,” it had observed.

The Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) Police had issued a notice under Section 41-A of the CrPC on June 21 asking him to report at the Loni Border police station at 10:30 AM on June 24.

Maheshwari then moved the Karnataka High Court as he was at that time staying in Bengaluru in Karnataka.

On June 24, the High Court, in an interim order, restrained the Ghaziabad Police from initiating any coercive action against him.

The Ghaziabad Police on June 15 booked Twitter Inc, Twitter Communications India Pvt Ltd (Twitter India), news website The Wire, journalists Mohammed Zubair and Rana Ayyub, besides Congress leaders Salman Nizami, Maskoor Usmani, Shama Mohamed and writer Saba Naqvi.

They were booked over the circulation of a video in which an elderly man, Abdul Shamad Saifi, alleged that he was thrashed by some young men, who also asked him to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on June five.

According to police, the video was shared to cause communal unrest.

October 22, 2021
Twitter appointed officers in compliance with new IT Rules, Centre tells Delhi HC

By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Centre has informed the Delhi High Court that Twitter has appointed Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), Resident Grievance Officer (RGO), and Nodal Contact Person in compliance with the new IT Rules.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), in a short affidavit, said Twitter has acknowledged that the personnel (CCO, Nodal Contact Person, and RGO) are appointed as the company’s employees and not as ‘contingent workers’.

“Twitter has provided the names of the said appointed personnel and their respective positions also. The said affidavit (of Twitter) mentions their employment start date as August 4, 2021. Twitter has further enclosed their employment contracts along with the said affidavit as proof of such appointments,” the ministry said.

The court had on August 10 directed the Centre to file a short affidavit in response to Twitter’s affidavit in which the company had shown compliance with IT Rules.

“I submit that Twitter has appointed the personnel in compliance to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 hereinafter referred as IT Rules, 2021,” N Samaya Balan, working as Scientist-E in the Cyber Law Group with the MEITY, said in the affidavit.

Justice Rekha Palli, who was hearing a petition alleging non-compliance of IT Rules by the US-based microblogging site, is scheduled to hear the matter on October 5.

The Centre’s affidavit further said the IT Rules, 2021 is “a law of the land” and Twitter is “mandatorily required to comply with the IT Rules 2021 in its entirety”.

“Any non-compliance amounts to a breach of the provisions of the IT Rules, 2021 thereby leading to Twitter losing its immunity conferred under section 79(I) of the IT Act, 2000.”

The exemptions conferred on intermediaries under section 79(I) is a conditional exemption subject to the intermediary satisfying the conditions under sections 79(2) and 79(3).

“Further, as per rule 7, failure to observe the IT Rules, 2021 will result in the non-applicability of Section 79(1) of the IT Act, 2000 to such an intermediary and the intermediary shall become liable for any punishment under any law for the time being in force in respect of the offending content,” it said.

It further said that the IT Rules, 2021 also mandate that a Significant Social media Intermediary (SSMI) must have a physical contact address in India published on its public platforms, to receive communications addressed to it.

The SSMI has to enable a mechanism that provides a unique ticket number for every complaint or grievance, which enables the complainant to track the status of such complaint or grievance as per the rule and Twitter is also responsible to submit compliance reports as mandated in the IT Rules, it said.

The Centre had earlier told the court that Twitter was prima facie in compliance with the new IT Rules by appointing the officers permanently.

Twitter had earlier said the appointed persons will work on a full-time basis and are fully capable of performing the functions in terms of the law.

On July 28, the court had expressed displeasure over Twitter appointing a contingent worker as CCO and said that the social media platform was in non-compliance with the new IT Rules.

The Centre had said in its affidavit that Twitter failed to comply with India’s new IT Rules, which could lead to its losing immunity conferred under the IT Act.

Petitioner-lawyer Amit Acharya claimed that he came to know about the alleged non-compliance of IT Rules by Twitter when he tried to complain about a couple of tweets.

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 seek to regulate dissemination and publication of content in cyberspace, including social media platforms and were notified in February by the central government.

September 24, 2021
Khloe Kardashian slams social media critics spreading fake news about her

By ANI

WASHINGTON: American reality TV star Khloe Kardashian clapped back at social media users who were creating fake news about her on Twitter.

Without referring to the exact fake news, the beauty mogul took to her Twitter and wrote, “HA! some of y’all really just makeup anything and swear it’s the truth as if you know what’s going on. The truth is never good enough… or juicy enough. So you create a narrative that fits what you choose to believe.”

According to Page Six, Khloe further replied to a few tweets, alleging that the “incorrect narratives” were “terrorizing” her.

On the other hand, the reality star also spent the Saturday night with her ex, Tristan Thompson, with whom she shares 3-year-old daughter True Thompson.

The duo attended a birthday party for American professional basketball player LeBron James’ wife, Savannah Brinson, Page Six quoted TMZ’s report.

The viral photos over social media show the friendly exes enjoying the bash and hanging out together as singer Giveon performed at the party in West Hollywood, California.

Khloe also shared a picture of herself from the evening on Instagram. She flaunted her toned body in a body-hugging black Balenciaga dress as she leaned on a black SUV.

Reportedly, the former couple, who broke up in June arrived at the party separately.

Page Six noted that Khloe arrived at the party in a black Escalade, while Tristan arrived in a black Rolls Royce.

The duo has remained firm on the decision that they will maintain a healthy relationship to co-parent their 3-year-old daughter, True Thompson.

August 30, 2021
Facebook removes Rahul Gandhi’s post for policy violation

By PTI

NEW DELHI: After Twitter, Facebook has removed a content posted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that identified the family of a nine-year-old victim of alleged rape and murder in Northwest Delhi, saying it violated the social media platform’s policies.

According to sources, Facebook has informed Gandhi and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) about the removal of the posts from Facebook and Instagram.

Earlier this week, Facebook had written to Gandhi asking him to remove the said post from Instagram — Facebook’s photosharing platform.

“We have taken action to remove the content as it was in violation of our policies,” a Facebook spokesperson said in an emailed statement on Friday.

Facebook takes action against a content if it violates its Community Standards or upon receiving a valid legal request as per Indian laws.

Last week, NCPCR had asked Facebook to take appropriate action against Gandhi’s Instagram profile over violation of provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the Indian Penal Code, and demanded the removal of the video from the platform.

Following the communication from Facebook to Gandhi earlier week, NCPCR withdrew its direction to the company to appear before the commission with an explanation over non-action regarding Gandhi’s post.

Earlier this month, Gandhi had met the family of the nine-year-old girl and asserted that he is with them on the path to justice and “will not back down even an inch”.

Later, he posted a picture of his meeting with the girl’s parents on Instagram. Similar posts were also shared on Twitter.

The microblogging platform had locked accounts of Gandhi as well as many other Congress leaders who tweeted the controversial post.

On August 14, Twitter restored Gandhi’s account after the Congress leader submitted a consent letter from the family of the victim.

Twitter, however, continues to withhold the tweets that contain the images saying they violate India’s laws.

“As part of the appeal process, @RahulGandhi (the official Twitter handle of Rahul Gandhi) has submitted a copy of the formal consent/authorisation letter to use the referenced image via our India Grievance Channel,” Twitter spokesperson had said.

The law provides that identity of a juvenile victim of sexual assault cannot be disclosed. Tweeting pictures of the family violated that and so the accounts were locked.

During the period the accounts were locked, the owner could access the account but not allowed to send out new tweets.

This was to allow them to delete the contentious tweets. But neither Gandhi nor Congress and its leaders did that. Instead, they submitted a consent letter from the family of the alleged rape victim for use of their images.

“We have followed the necessary due diligence process to review the appeal in order to protect the safety and privacy of the affected individuals. We have updated our enforcement action based on the consent provided by the people depicted in the image,” the Twitter spokesperson had said.

August 20, 2021
Twitter ‘unblocks’ account of Rajasthan Congress Pradesh Committee

By PTI

JAIPUR: Micro-blogging site Twitter “unblocked” the account of Rajasthan Congress Pradesh Committee on Saturday, the party state unit president said.

Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra described it as a victory of truth and self-respect.

“Twitter has unblocked the accounts of Rahul Gandhi, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee and Congress leaders. This is the victory of truth and self-respect,” he tweeted.

“But the fight for justice against injustice is not over. We will always fight for the truth and win,” he said.

Twitter had blocked the account of the Rajasthan Congress Pradesh Committee on Thursday after locking the accounts of Rahul Gandhi and Congress.

August 14, 2021
Rahul Gandhi shown the door from only place he was active: BJP on his Twitter account suspension

By PTI

NEW DELHI: The BJP Friday took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over Twitter temporarily locking his account for allegedly violating its rules, saying the Congress leader has been shown the door from the only place he was active and he should use the new social media rules enforced by the Modi government to restore the account.

Addressing a press conference, BJP MP and the party’s youth wing president Tejasvi Surya said the same Congress was crying hoarse and attacking the government when it framed the new rules to “empower” social media platform users.

Now, Gandhi cannot take umbrage behind the freedom of expression argument after he tweeted a picture of a rape and murder victim’s family members, Surya said, adding it was “indecent, illegal and inhuman”.

ALSO READ | Revealing details about rape victim: After Twitter, NCPCR demands action against Instagram profile of Rahul Gandhi

The law prohibits the disclosure of a rape victim’s identity, including address or her family members’ details, promoting the BJP and the official child rights body to hit out at the Congress leader.

The Congress has argued that Gandhi is raising the family’s voice for justice and that the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and a BJP MP had also posted the family’s pictures.

Surya said the issue now is whether it was right on Gandhi’s part to publicly disclose the victim’s identity as the law of the land frowns upon such acts.

“The only place he was active was on Twitter. Unfortunately, even Twitter has shown him the door,” he said wryly. Gandhi and the Congress should make usage of the rules and regulations made by the Modi government and attempt to get his account restored, he added.

In another dig at Gandhi, BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh said, “Disney prince Rahul Gandhi should not have disclosed the the victim’s identity for his petty politics. He should understand this is real world not his Disney world.”

Gandhi on Friday accused Twitter of being biased and interfering in the country’s political process by blocking his account.

In a strong attack, Gandhi said Twitter was denying his millions of followers the right to an opinion and termed it as an attack on the democratic structure of the country.

August 13, 2021
Revealing details about rape victim: After Twitter, NCPCR demands action against Instagram profile of Rahul Gandhi

By PTI

NEW DELHI: After Twitter, apex child rights body NCPCR on Friday asked Facebook to take action against the Instagram profile of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for posting a photo of the family of the nine-year-old girl who was allegedly raped and murdered in southwest Delhi, saying it violated the law.

On August 4, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) wrote to Twitter, asking it to take action against the handle of Gandhi for posting the photo of the family.

The microblogging site blocked the account of Gandhi following the complaint.

In a letter to Facebook, the Commission said it has come across a video posted on the Instagram profile of Gandhi wherein the identity of the victim minor girl’s family has been disclosed.

In this video the faces of the father and the mother of the deceased girl can be clearly seen, which is in violation of the prescribed provisions of law, it added.

The NCPCR asked Facebook for taking appropriate action against the Instagram profile of Gandhi over violation of provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the Indian Penal Code, and demanded the removal of the video from the platform.

Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, prohibits the disclosure of identity of a child in any form of media and Section 23 of the POCSO Act, 2012, also states that no information or photo of a child should be published in any form of media which could reveal the identity of the child.

ALSO READ | ‘Not a neutral, objective platform’: Rahul lashes out at Twitter day after Congress accounts get blocked

This information under Section 23 of the POCSO Act includes his/her name, address, photograph, family details, school, neighbourhood or any other particulars which may lead to disclosure of identity of the child.

“Therefore, posting of the video of the minor victim’s family on social media platform-Instagram has been observed by the Commission to be a violation of Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, Section 23 of the POCSO Act, 2012, Section 228A of the IPC and the guidelines of the Hon’ble Court as well.

“In view of the same, the Commission deems it appropriate to take suo-moto cognisance under Section 13(1) and notice under Section 14 of the CPCR Act, 2005 in this matter,” the NCPCR said.

“Accordingly, the link to the Instagram video is being forwarded for taking appropriate action against the Instagram profile of Rahul Gandhi for violation of provisions of JJ Act, 2015, POCSO Act, 2012 and IPC and removal of the Instagram video from the platform,” it added.

Gandhi last week met the family of the nine-year-old girl and asserted that he is with them on the path to justice and “will not back down even an inch”.

Later, he posted a picture of his meeting with the girl’s parents on Twitter and wrote in Hindi, “Parents’ tears are saying only one thing, their daughter, the daughter of this country, deserves justice. And I am with them on this path to justice.”

The girl died under mysterious circumstances when she went to get water from a cooler at a crematorium in the Old Nangal area in southwest Delhi.

The girl’s parents alleged that she was raped and her body forcibly cremated by a crematorium priest who had falsely claimed that she was electrocuted.

Hundreds of locals, including the victim’s parents, have been staging a protest near the site of the incident, demanding capital punishment for the accused.

August 13, 2021