Twitter has now lost its “intermediary” status in India and is liable for legal action like any other publisher under the Indian laws. Intermediary status was a robust shield that allowed Twitter to deflect any legal action towards the person putting an offensive post. As a publisher, it is now Twitter’s responsibility to flag the post promptly and appropriately.

The tussle between Twitter and the government took a sharp turn in January this year. The trigger was Twitter’s response to the Modi government’s request for removal of certain contents related to January 26 violence in Delhi.

The Information Technology Act, 2000 is the law that gives the government power to take punitive action against persons putting out a legally offensive post and companies facilitating circulation of such a post. It allows the government to block online content that “threatens the security of the state”.