Episode 26
Online Activism & Digital Freedom
This week, we are speaking to Bhavjit Singh, the founder of the Twitter account @Tractor2twitr. The account was set up to support the Indian Farmers’ Protests and counter the narrative being promoted by the mainstream media and the IT cells of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party led by President Narendra Modi. It currently has over 50,000 followers and is run by several hundred volunteers across the globe.
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Host & Producer: Chipo Mapondera
Researcher: Eliza Bacon
Editor: Deirbhile Áine Ní Bhranáin
Sound Engineer: Fungai Nengare
Theme Music: Anna De Mutiis
Resources:
Follow @Tractor2twitr
Visit the Tractor2twitr website.
Learn more about Tractor2twitr in the Newslaundry article How Punjabi youth are using social media to back up farmer protests, and counter ‘Godi Media’.
Jakarta Post article Tractors to Twitter: India's protesting farmers battle on highway, online gives a short background on Bhavjit Singh, Tractor2twitr and the Farmers’ protests.
Learn more about the suspension of Indian Twitter accounts, including Tractor2twitr in the True Scoop News article Caravan magazine, Tractor2twitr and among other 250 twitter accounts suspended for spreading fake news, netizens call it attack on free speech.
Learn more about the legalities of Twitter banning in India in the article Is the Ban on Twitter Accounts of Caravan, Farm Activists Legal? via The Quint.
Watch India Supreme Court Advocate, Karuna Nundy in conversation with Newslaundry in the article NL Interview : Karuna Nundy on legal activism, new IT rules, and transparency in the legal system.
The Newslaundry article ‘Why is it wrong?’: Singhu farmers ask why media is upset if they get support globally, Newslaundry, Feb 2021 international and celebrity Twitter support of the Farmers’ protests.
Learn more about the Indian government’s IT Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules 2021 in the article Digital media ethics rules go against fundamental principle of news’, says DIGIPUB from Newslaundry.
The article Paranoia about digital coverage led ministers to propose media clampdown, monitoring “negative influencers” from The Caravan, details moves by the Indian government to regulate digital news and social media.
The gal-dem article For Indians in the grip of a Covid-19 crisis, Twitter is a desperate last resort raises alarm over India’s Covid-19 situation.
Learn more about how big tech companies seem to be supporting the Indian government’s campaign against climate activists in the article India Targets Climate Activists with the help of Big Tech by Naomi Klein in The Intercept, .Feb 2021