Twitter apologises to India for China geo-tagging error

PTI| New Delhi

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Social media giant Twitter has apologised in writing to a key parliamentary panel for wrongly showing Ladakh in China and has promised to correct the error by the month-end, the committee''s chairperson Meenakshi Lekhi said on Wednesday.

Twitter's deposition has come in form of an affidavit signed by Damien Karien, Chief Privacy Officer of Twitter Inc, for wrong geo-tagging of India''s map, Lekhi told PTI.

Last month, the Joint Committee of Parliament on Data Protection Bill had come down heavily on Twitter for showing Ladakh as part of China, saying it amounted to treason and had sought an explanation by the US-based parent of the social media platform in form of an affidavit.

Appearing before the panel, chaired by Lekhi, representatives of Twitter India had "begged apology", but they were told by the members that it was a criminal offense that questioned the sovereignty of the country and an affidavit must be submitted by Twitter Inc, not by its ''marketing arm'' Twitter India.

"Twitter has now given us a written apology on an affidavit for Ladakh being shown in China," Lekhi said.

"They have apologized for hurting Indian sentiments and have sworn to correct the error by November 30, 2020," she said, adding that the people of India and the government remain committed to the national integrity and security.

Taking a dig at the BJP''s rival parties in Jammu and Kashmir, Lekhi said, "Physical to digital resources of India will always be protected by its people while members from Gupkar alliance may be holding meetings in Havelis and nurturing different dreams against the national interest."

The alliance of about 10 regional parties has demanded the restoration of Article 370.

Twitter had come under heavy criticism and faced a backlash from social media users after its geotagging feature displayed "Jammu & Kashmir, the People''s Republic of China" in a live broadcast from Leh''s Hall of Fame, a war memorial for fallen soldiers in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

The Indian government on October 22 had warned Twitter about its location setting that showed Leh in China, saying any disrespect towards the country''s sovereignty and integrity is totally unacceptable.

In a strongly-worded letter, Ajay Sawhney, Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), asked Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to respect the country''s sensitivities, sources in the ministry had said.