Twitter Failed To Comply With Law Of Land, Govt Tells High Court

New Delhi: The Indian government and Twitter continue to be at loggerheads over the new IT rules.

The Centre on Monday filed an affidavit in Delhi high court, accusing Twitter of failing to comply with “law of the land”, in the form of IT rules.

“In spite of three months’ time granted to all significant social media intermediaries to comply with the IT Rules, 2021, Twitter Inc has failed to comply with the same,” the government said in its affidavit.

Twitter has not appointed a chief compliance officer, resident grievance officer, nodal contact person (even on an interim basis) as of July 1, and is not showing physical contact address on its website as mandated under the rules, the affidavit mentioned.

Also Read: Complaint Filed Against Twitter India Head For This Reason

Stating that IT rules are “law of the land” which the US-headquartered social media company has to comply with, the affidavit says: “Any non-compliance amounts to a breach of the provisions of IT Rules thereby leading to Twitter losing immunity conferred under Section 79(1) of IT Act, 2000.”

Interestingly, Twitter informed the high court two days ago that it’s in the “final stages” of appointing a local grievance officer. Dharmendra Chatur, who was appointed interim resident grievance officer in India, resigned on June 27. US national Jeremy Kessel was then named for the role, which was in violation of the rules.

Also Read: We Are Neither Originator, Nor Publisher, Twitter Tells HC