The Foreign Office (FO) has raised alarm over the Indian government's policy of blocking access to information after New Delhi asked social media giant Twitter to block the accounts of Islamabad's diplomatic missions.
The FO’s spokesperson, in a tweet on Monday, expressed concern over the “diminishing space for plurality of voices and access to information in India”.
The FO deemed the practice of blocking the flow of information “extremely alarming” and stated that social media platforms must abide by applicable international norms. The FO also urged the microblogging site to restore immediate access to accounts and ensure adherence to democratic freedoms of speech and expression.Islamabad said that the Twitter accounts of Pakistan’s missions in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Nations were amongst the many that have been blocked.
Earlier, according to Indian media, India’s ministry of information and broadcasting had moved to block Pakistan-based social media and YouTube accounts claiming that they were responsible for spreading false information.
Islamabad said that the Twitter accounts of Pakistan’s missions in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Nations were amongst the many that have been blocked.
Earlier, according to Indian media, India’s ministry of information and broadcasting had moved to block Pakistan-based social media and YouTube accounts claiming that they were responsible for spreading false information.
