Twitter flags BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya’s tweet as ‘Manipulated Media’

New Delhi: Days after BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya posted a clip of farmers protests, social-media platform Twitter on Wednesday flagged it as “manipulated media”.

A picture depicting an old farmer being manhandled by cops did rounds on social media few days ago. Malviya sought to post a fact-check tweet, which claimed that police did not even touch the said farmer and the picture was nothing but a propaganda. 

Malviya posted the clip on November 28, in response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s tweet which showed a cop swinging a baton at the farmer.

Notably, this is being said to be the first time that the social-media platform has flagged fake news in India.

As per Twitter’s policy, “You may not deceptively promote synthetic or manipulated media that are likely to cause harm. In addition, we may label Tweets containing synthetic and manipulated media to help people understand their authenticity and to provide additional context.” The overview of the same can be read by clicking on the ‘Manipulated media’ warning by Twitter on the above-mentioned tweet.

Fake-news checking agency Alt News also disputed Malviya’s claim, saying that he posted a “clipped” footage to water down police brutality.

Meanwhile, hundreds of farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, have gathered at the Noida and Delhi border to protest against Centre’s farm laws. Protesting farmers said they will not go back to their home until their demands are fulfilled by the Centre.