Meta’s Instagram recently faced backlash after suspending OpIndia’s account, citing vague violations of its policies on restricted items. The suspension, which initially drew widespread criticism and accusations of arbitrary censorship, was reversed following significant public outcry. This incident has sparked renewed concerns about the platform’s dedication to free speech and fair treatment.
The suspension notice issued to OpIndia stated that the account might have breached Instagram’s policies concerning the “buying, selling, or exchange of items restricted by governments.” The platform’s guidelines specifically list firearms, animal parts, tobacco, alcohol, and drugs as prohibited items. This reasoning was particularly puzzling given that OpIndia is a news platform with no known involvement in such activities.
Instagram has suspended the OpIndia account. The reason provided is simply asinine. It appears that Big Tech is no longer even bothered about providing a reasonable explanation – they will make shit up and suspend voices they don’t like. And the Left wanted us to believe that… pic.twitter.com/VvDPvNedJF
— Nupur J Sharma (@UnSubtleDesi) August 22, 2024
It is noteworthy that Instagram also suspended the account of Organiser Weekly, on November 16, 2023, without providing any explanation, and despite consistent efforts by the team, the account has not been reinstated. The message received by Organiser said, “We don’t allow people posting fake news, starting a romantic relationship in order to take money and money laundering.” The platform gave us 180 days to raise an appeal and even after repeated appeals, no action was taken against this act.
In the case of OpIndia, critics quickly denounced Instagram’s justification as nonsensical and indicative of a broader pattern of arbitrary censorship by major tech companies. Many suggested that the suspension was an example of social media platforms using their power to silence dissenting voices without providing a clear or reasonable explanation.
The reaction to the suspension was largely negative, with commentators arguing that Instagram’s rationale was both vague and illogical. This led to accusations that the suspension was part of a broader trend where social media giants suppress content and accounts they disagree with, often without transparent or justifiable reasons.
In contrast, some anti-national, pro-Congress, and leftist handles celebrated the action, viewing it as a victory against what they perceive as problematic content.
For instance, INC Kerala posted, “Yeh kya hua? Kaise hua? Kab hua? Kyun hua? Thank you, @instagram
, for taking out the trash and cleaning up!”
Yeh kya hua?
Kaise hua?
Kab hua?
Kyun hua?Thank you, @instagram , for taking out the trash and cleaning up! pic.twitter.com/BWM3roTojN
— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) August 23, 2024
Team Saath posted, “Dear @elonmusk Learn something from @instagram . They are suspending hateful handles while your team doesn’t. Hateful bigots like @randomsena, @MrSinha_, @ajeetbharti and @SonOfBharat7 are thriving on @X even after thousands of reports against them. Have some shame for not enforcing your own rules and policies”
Dear @elonmusk
Learn something from @instagram . They are suspending hateful handles while your team doesn’t.
Hateful bigots like @randomsena , @MrSinha_ , @ajeetbharti and @SonOfBharat7 are thriving on @X even after thousands of reports against them.
Have some shame for not… https://t.co/XDUmARyxU1 pic.twitter.com/broJjavnsz
— Team Saath Official🤝 (@TeamSaath) August 22, 2024
In response to the backlash and increasing scrutiny, Instagram reversed its decision and reinstated the OpIndia account. The platform later admitted that the suspension might have been an error.
OpIndia welcomed the reinstatement with a mix of relief and sarcasm. Chief Editor Nupur Sharma publicly commented that Meta had “finally realised” that the platform was not involved in selling restricted items like guns or animal parts. Sharma derided the initial suspension as a decision made by “a bunch of noobs,” reflecting a sense of vindication and frustration over the incident.
We are back. Meta has managed to figure out the obvious – that we aren’t selling guns or dogs on Instagram. Bunch of noobs https://t.co/yb6EvKhmpg pic.twitter.com/ZWm821Bq2a
— Nupur J Sharma (@UnSubtleDesi) August 22, 2024
The episode has intensified debates about the role and responsibilities of social media platforms in regulating content. Critics argue that such arbitrary actions undermine trust in these platforms and challenge their commitment to upholding free speech and equitable treatment for all users.
It is noteworthy that platforms under Meta’s control, such as Facebook and Instagram, have faced scrutiny for allegedly shadow-banning pro-Hindu accounts, adding another layer to the ongoing discussions about bias and censorship in digital spaces.
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