Thread by @nixxin

So, some thoughts on the deplatforming of Kangana Ranaut by Twitter.

1. This is probably the first instance where Twitter has deplatformed a significant (and politically active) user in the country. It creates for an interesting debate.

2. Indian politicians were worried:
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In January 2021, @Tejasvi_Surya had raised concerns about Twitter's exercise of such power when Donald Trump had been deplatformed. He had called for amendments to India's approach to Intermediary Liability to address such situations.
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medianama.com/2021/01/223-bj…

This is a wake-up call to the threat to democracies posed by “unregulated big tech companies”, he said. “If they can do this to POTUS, they can do this to anyone”.
Platform regulation has been an important issue for him. He's also on the Parliamentary

https://twitter.com/Tejasvi_Surya/status/1347710092808908801

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committee that heard Facebook's Ajit Mohan's deposition. And mine, just before Ajit deposed.

3. What can Kangana do?
a. She has already said on instagram that what she can't do on twitter, she can do there. Reminder: after twitter deplatformed Trump, Facebook followed.
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So will instagram be next? IMO,this will only happen if she consistently does there what we've seen her do on twitter. (I'll explain this later)

b. She can dispute the deplatforming, under the new IT Rules 2021. These were passed Under the IT Rules 2021,
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which were passed shortly after @Tejasvi_Surya 's comments about Trump deplatforming. If Kangana disputes and Twitter still refuses, the IT Ministry could possibly step in. Yes, she could be back.

6. Should Kangana's account have been suspended? It's likely. She called for
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violence ("kill"), and free speech isn't protected when there is incitement to violence. If someone is a repeat offender, platforms can remove users (and justify it).

7. This is not new! Kangana's account was temporarily suspended in January regarding her comments on Tandav
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In december there was even a court case against her, for her to be deplatformed from Twitter for (allegedly)“spreading continuous hatred, disharmony in the country and attempting to divide the country with her extremist tweets.”
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8. Should platforms have the right to remove users? They're private entities performing a public function. One would assume that private entities should be free to do what they want on their private platform. But it's tricky when they're important carriers of free speech.
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They shouldn't have a free run re censorship either, given their importance. We need to discuss this more.

9. Will Kangana's followers users move to Koo (or mastodon... heh)? I seriously doubt it. Some people (read: trolls) need targets. Echo chambers are boring for them
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If someone isn't getting pissed off at them, or getting upset because of what they're saying, toh khana kaise hazam hoga? They thrive on attention.

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On the Shreya Singhal judgment, I'm inclined to agree with Pranesh here

https://twitter.com/pranesh/status/1389550326978596867