Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has recently enforced a mass ban, removing a staggering 3,33,036 accounts in India between October 26 and November 25.
This move is not unprecedented, as X has previously taken similar actions against accounts engaging in illicit activities.
Reasons for the Ban
The primary reasons cited for the account bans are the alleged involvement in child exploitation and the promotion of non-consensual nudity.
According to reports, Linda Yaccarino, the newly appointed CEO, initiated the ban on 2,233 accounts during the specified timeframe.
Violations of the platform’s account policy, specifically related to the promotion of pedophilia and non-consensual nudity, led to these accounts being banned.
Anti-Terrorism Measures
In addition to addressing issues of child exploitation and inappropriate content, X has taken steps to counteract the promotion of terrorism on its platform.
During the same period, 2,233 accounts were banned for their involvement in promoting terrorism in India, bringing the total number of banned accounts to 3,35,269.
Compliance with IT Rules 2021
The comprehensive account bans align with X’s commitment to comply with the new IT Rules 2021.
These rules mandate major digital and social media platforms with more than 5 million users to release monthly compliance reports.
In adherence to these regulations, X has divulged a total of 1,062 user complaints from India during the reported period.
Among these, 52 complaints were linked to appellate account suspension. Following a review, only one account was reinstated, while the remainder will remain suspended.
Previous Incidents of Account Bans
This wave of account bans is not the first of its kind. In previous instances, X has taken stringent measures to curb illicit activities on its platform.
For instance, between August 26 and September 25, 557,764 accounts faced bans for promoting terrorism, with 1,675 being removed.
Similarly, from September 26 to October 25, 234,584 accounts in India were banned, and 2,755 were removed for promoting terrorism.
The proactive approach to enforcing community guidelines underscores X’s commitment to maintaining a safe and secure online environment for its users in India.
