Will Take A Stance Once Twitter’s Position Is Known: MoS IT On Verification Fee Reports

Minister of State (MoS) for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday (October 31) said that Twitter is yet to confirm the reports of $20 monthly charge for verification badge on the platform.

Refusing to comment on the reports, Chandrasekhar said that any comment on the matter could be made only after Twitter’s position is known.

“It is not from Twitter, someone has floated that story…it is not confirmed by Twitter. Let them say what they have to say and then we will comment…I can’t jump at something that somebody is speculating,” the minister was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Verification badges are blue ticks that appear on Twitter profiles to easily distinguish genuine profiles of notable users from parodies and fake accounts.

Chandrasekhar also noted that the Indian government sees social media platforms as ‘partners’ in ensuring that the internet is safe and trustworthy for Indians.

This comes days after Tesla boss Elon Musk completed the acquisition of microblogging website Twitter in a $44 Bn deal. Commenting on the development, Chandrasekhar had then said that the country’s focus continues on compliance to IT Rules. 

“Our rules and laws for intermediaries remain the same regardless of who owns the platforms,” he said. 

The deal came after a bitter legal battle that saw Musk offering to buy the company and later backing out. Eventually, a legal battle ensued and he finally took over the company. 

Govt Vs Twitter

Twitter has had multiple run-ins with the Indian government over a slew of reasons. Earlier this year, the microblogging platform dragged the government to court over ‘innocuous’ block orders. Twitter argued that the orders were issued to the social media platform to block handles and tweets without giving any reason. 

Besides, Twitter has also sparred with the government over non-compliance with laws. There has also been furore over content moderation on the platform, with criticisms ranging from over-moderation to little moderation. 

There has also been debates around deplatforming, which even saw then MeitY Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad’s Twitter account being blocked for a few hours in 2021. Beyond this, the two sides have also sparred over alleged takedown demands regarding accounts related to farmer protests. 

The news about imposing a $20 monthly fee could open floodgates for more people to verify their accounts. This could take away the allure of having the coveted blue tick but could also open it for the general populace. In the past, Twitter has also come under fire for its arbitrary verification policies, offering badges to obscure accounts while ignoring other handles with notable following online.

Meanwhile, venture capital firm a16z’s Sriram Krishnan also announced that he would be temporarily assisting Musk with the rejig at the platform. While Musk says that the whole verification process at Twitter is being revamped, it is being closely watched by critics and his fanbase alike.