E-OCCUPIED: HOW SOCIAL MEDIA CORPORATIONS ENABLE SILENCE ON KASHMIR - Stand With ...
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E-OCCUPIED: HOW SOCIAL
MEDIA CORPORATIONS ENABLE
SILENCE ON KASHMIR
#STANDWITHKASHMIR
#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
03 Executive Summary
04 Why Kashmir?
04 Background
06 Scope and Methodology
Summary of Content Censorship
07 and Account Restrictions/Removal
Why Censorship Matters Beyond
18 Kashmir
Legal Analysis of Social Media
18 Corporations’ Censorship
Recommendations for Social Media
25 Corporations
CONTENTS
Recommendations for Policy Makers
27 and Grassroots Organizations
28 References
Photo: Masrat Zahra
#STANDWITHKASHMIR
#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
HOW SOCIAL MEDIA
CORPORATIONS ENABLE
SILENCE ON KASHMIR
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Since 2017, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and
other social media platforms have continually
silenced Kashmiri voices in the digital space.
These corporations have removed content,
suspended user accounts and engaged in
algorithmic manipulation of content critical of
India’s military occupation and settler-
colonialism in the region. Corporations are
siding with India’s suppression of Kashmiri digital
rights, including the government’s blockade of
internet and telecommunications access in
region, as well as its weaponization of the law
and policy to curb expression of Kashmiri
political aspirations in the digital space.
This report employs qualitative and quantitative
methods. Stand With Kashmir researchers
examine social media corporations’ stifling of
content and user profiles critiquing India’s
authoritarian policies in Kashmir. This report
provides insight into the profound harm that
results when corporations impose digital silence
on Kashmiris. Social media corporations have
publicly reiterated a commitment to
international standards of freedom of
expression. They have fallen short, however.
Social media corporations must end their
complicity in the ongoing digital occupation of
Kashmiri voices—both inside and outside of
Indian-occupied Kashmir. They must fulfill their
stated human rights obligations to people living
in the world’s most militarized region by
reinstating affected content; providing
transparency into why content was removed;
and evaluating the censorship experienced by
Kashmiris at a policy level.
Background Photo: Kashmir Observer
Art by APDP
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#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
WHY KASHMIR? BACKGROUND
K a s h mir remain s c r i t i c a l f o r T h e advent of so c i a l m e d i a h as
th o s e who are i n t e r e s t e d i n d r a m atically tra n s f o r m e d t h e r e a l m
th e expansive ab i l i t y o f o f p olitical activ i s m i n I n d i a n -
s e e m ingly “dem o c r a t i c ” o c c u pied Jammu & K a s h m i r
g o v e rnments to s u r v e i l , (h e r eafter “Kash m i r ” ) a n d w i t hi n
s u p p ress, and si l e n c e v o i c e s of c o n t entious regi o n s a t l a r g e .
d i s s ent, as well a s t h e A c c e ss to social m e d i a p l a t f o rm s
c o m plicity of so c i a l m e d i a h a s provided a s p a c e t o
c o r p orationsfirm s i n t h e s e m a rg inalized com m u n i t i e s a n d
p r o c esses. Kas h m i r i s a c a s e m o v ements—pr e v i o u s l y n e g l ec t e d
s t u d y for social m e d i a b y m ainstream t e l e v i s i o n , p r i n t a n d
p l a t form gover n a n c e i s s u e s d i g i tal media— i n w h i c h t o v o i c e
w r i t broadly and p r o v i d e s a s p e e ch critical o f t h e g o v e r n me n t .
c o m prehensive e x a m p l e o f W i t h in Indian-oc c u p i e d K a s h mi r ,
h o w censorship i s m e d i a t e d th e summer upr i s i n g s o f 2 0 0 8 ,
th r o ugh social m e d i a . A l r e a d y, 2 0 0 9, 2010 and 2 0 1 6 w i t n e s s e d a
th e visibility of t h e K a s h m i r n e w generation o f K a s h m i r i M u s l i m
is s u e in the int e r n a t i o n a l y o u t h voice thei r v i s i o n f o r
a r e n a is suppres s e d a s a K a s h mir’s sovere i g n t y . T h e s e y o u t h
re s u lt of India’s b r u t a l d e m onstrated a r e n e w e d
c r a c kdown on i n f o r m a t i o n e n g a gement wit h t h e K a s h m i r i
from the region, h e i g h t e n e d by m o v ement for s e l f -determina t i o n,
re c u rrent intern e t s h u t d o w n s. k n o w n as the T e h r eek, by leading
W h a tever conte n t i s p r o d u c e d s t r e et protests a n d c o n s i s t e nt l y
b y K ashmiri soci a l m e d i a u s e rs e n g a ging with so c i a l m e d i a
is i nfiltrated by m a s s i v e a n d p l a t forms to tra n s f o r m n a r r a ti v e s
o r g a nized Indian I T c e l l s , o f t en a n d perception s o f I n d i a n r u l e i n
a f f i liated with th e r u l i n g B J P K a s h mir.
g o v e rnment. As w i t h m a n y
o t h e r parts of t h e w o r l d , D u r i ng this time , t h e I n d i a n s ta t e
c o n t ent by state o r s t a t e - d i r e ctly pressur e d l o c a l p r i n t a n d
b a c k ed agencie s t h a t a r e n e w s media to b l a c k o u t s t o r i e s
p u t t ing out disi n f o r m a t i o n i s re l a ted to the p o l i c e , a r m y a nd
o f t e n protected, w h i l e p a r a military’s u s e o f
m a rg inalized, gr a s s r o o t s d i s p roportiona t e f o r c e o n
v o i c es are the o n e s t o g e t p r o t estors, and c u r b s o n f r e ed o m s
d e p latformed. Su ch silencing o f e xpression an d s p e e c h . T h is
is p racticed on m a r g i n a l i z e d v a c u um was swi f t l y f i l l e d b y n e w
c o m munities an d t h e n K a s h mir-based n e w s r o o m s a n d
e x p o rted elsew h e r e . m a g azines whic h r e l i e d o n s o c i a l
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 04
#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
On Dec. 4, 2019, Kashmir-based accounts were automatically removed from WhatsApp for inactivity, after
four months of India’s internet blockade in Kashmir that began on Aug 4, 2019.
m e d ia for attrac t i n g t h e i r Nations Security Council or to local
a u d iences and m o n e t i z i n g t h e i r a s p i r a t i o n s 2. T h i s s e r i e s o f a c t i o n s
b u s i nesses mod e l s . T h e I n d i a n potentially constitutes India’s
s t a t e responde d t o t h e s u m m e r annexation of Kashmir—prohibited
u p r i sings in Kas h m i r b y i m p o si n g a under international law. Genocide
s t a t e of siege. I n t h e 1 9 9 0 s , Watch, a worldwide coalition of 75
a u t h orities used t h e m a s s organizations committed to
m i l i tarization, ex t r a - j u d i c i a l k i l l i n g s , stopping genocide, issued a
d i s a ppearances a n d m a s s a c r e s a s Genocide Alert for Kashmir soon
c o u n ter-insurg e n c y t a c t i c s . I n after the elimination of Kashmir’s
c o n t rast, the su m m e r u p r i s i n gs semiautonomous legal status citing
from 2008 saw t h e I n d i a n s t a t e t h e a l a r m i n g d e v e l o p m e n t s t h e r e .3
re s o rt to noctur n a l r a i d s , m a ss
a r r e sts and wide s p r e a d u s e of Beginning on Aug. 4, 2019, the
p r e v entive deten t i o n o f s t r e e t Indian state imposed a siege, in
p r o t estors, poli t i c a l w o r k e r s an d which internet and telephony
h u m an rights d e f e n d e r s .1 S i n c e A u g . services were interrupted or
5 , 2 019, the Ind i a n g o v e r n m e nt h a s completely suspended for
g i v e n a concrete s h a p e t o i t s p l a n s hundreds of days, culminating in
fo r s e t t ler-coloni a l e n g a g e m e n t what has been described as “the
in K ashmir . Ne w Delhi elim i n a t e d world’s longest internet
K a s h mir’s quas i - a u t o n o m o u s l e g a l shutdown…” from August 2019 to
s t a t us in the In d i a n c o n s t i t u t io n M a r c h 2 0 2 0 .4 T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e
a n d the land-rig h t s p r o v i s i o n s extended communication blackouts
c o n t ained therei n . E v i c t i o n s of was to impede grassroots-level
in d i genous peo p l e a r e a l s o collective political action, and stifle
o c c u rring withou t r e g a r d t o local narratives that contradicted
K a s h mir’s design a t i o n a s a n the government, whose propaganda
in t e rnational di s p u t e b y t h e Un i t e d the majority of Indian television
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 05
#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
and print media picked up. As prominent profiles with content
Indian authorities curtailed the critical of the Indian state’s actions
freedoms of speech and expression in Kashmir, for accounts both
of Kashmiri people inside Kashmir, within Kashmir and in the diasporic
diaspora-based Kashmiris helped setting. This has occured either
pave the way for an expression of directly at the urging of India
Kashmiri voices in the digital space. authorities or by categorizing such
As this report will show, though, content as “violating” the platform’s
social media corporations have guidelines. In effect, platforms have
increasingly clamped down on sided with India’s colonial regime in
expression in diasporic spaces, Kashmir, and are complicit in the
advancing an all-encompassing erasure of Kashmiri digital rights
digital silence on Kashmir. and the ongoing digital blackout of
Kashmir.
There exists widespread and
verified documentation of Indian SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
state actors and political parties’ T h i s report uses a n u m b e r o f
long-standing use of so-called “IT q u a litative and q u a n t i t a t i v e
c e l l s . ” T h e s e a c t o r s t r o l l , c r e a t e a n d m e th ods to exa m i n e s o c i a l m e d i a
distribute disinformation, and c o r p orations’ st i f l i n g o f c o n t en t
mass-report content on social a n d profiles cri t i c a l o f I n d i a ’ s
m e d i a p l a t f o r m s t o c o r p o r a t i o n s t o p o l i cies in Kash m i r . O u r f i r s t po i n t
s u p p r e s s K a s h m i r i v o i c e s a n d o t h e r o f r eference was a n o n l i ne poll w e
marginalized voices within India c o n d ucted. Sta n d W i t h K a s h m i r
s o c i e t y .5 M o r e r e c e n t l y , b o t h a s k e d Kashmiri f o l l o w e r s o n T w i t t e r
d u b i o u s N G O s a n d p r o m i n e n t n e w s a n d Instagram w h i c h p l a t f o r m s t h e y
media distributors such as ANI, e x p e rienced ce n s o r s h i p o n . O u r
with potential links to the Indian s e c o nd point o f r e f e r e n c e w a s a
state, have utilized profiles on d e t a iled surve y too l we created
Facebook and Twitter to amplify w i t h a set of qu e s t i o n s a b o u t t h e
statist narratives on Kashmir as m e th ods of cen s o r s h i p e m p l o y e d
part of a disinformation campaign b y t he platforms ; t h e i r i m p a c t o n
e x t e n d i n g i n t o E u r o p e .6 L a s t y e a r , a K a s h miri social m e d i a u s e r s ; an d
Wall Street Journal report revealed th e perceived ef f i c a c y a n d f a i rn e s s
Ankhi Das, the top public policy o f r edress proce s s e s o f f e r e d b y t h e
executive at Facebook’s India p l a t forms them s e l v e s . W e
offices at the time—in charge of c i r c ulated this t o o l w i t h i n o u r
India, South and Central Asia— trus ted networ k s a n d r e c e i v e d
c o n s i s t e n t l y s i d e d w i t h r u l i n g - p a r t y fo u r teen respo n s e s f r o m K a s h m i r i
politicians of the ethno-nationalist s o c i al media use r s t o i t . O u r th i r d
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The p o i n t of referen c e w a s in t e rviews
party used the platform to peddle w e c onducted w i t h u s e r s o f f i v e
hate speech and Islamophobic p r o m inent Kash m i r i s o c i a l m e d i a
r h e t o r i c .7 A t t h e s a m e t i m e , p r o f iles operati n g a c r o s s v a r i ed
platforms have systematically fiel d s. Based on t h e e x p e r i e n ce s o f
removed or stymied the reach of th e s e five profi l e s , w e a c h i e v ed a n
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 06
#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
in - d epth under s t a n d i n g a b o u t t h e
m e th ods and im p a c t s o f
c e n s orship; the p o t e n t i a l
re l a tionship of t h e I n d i a n s t a te t o
th e instance of c e n s o r s h i p ; a nd
re c o mmendation s f o r p l a t f o r m s t o
re - e stablish tru s t w i t h t h e K a sh m i r i
c o m munity. Our f i n a l p o i n t o f
re f e rence was p r e - existing m e d i a
r e p o rts a n d h u m an rights
d o c umentatio n o f censorship
e x p e rienced by K a s h m i r i u s e r s i n
th e digital spac e . T o p r o t e c t th e
d i g i tal privacy of t h o s e w h o B ) S urvey Resu l t s :
p r o v ided corro b o r a t i n g e v i d e n c e O f t he 1 4 r esponses w e received
a n d data throu g h o u r s u r v e y t o o l to o ur survey, 9 u s ers h a d
a n d online poll w e h a v e r e d a ct e d e x p e rienced ce n s o r s h i p o n
a l l i d e ntifying i n f o r m a t i o n . T he T w i t ter, 4 o n Facebook a n d 1 o n
n a m es of activis t s , s c h o l a r s a nd In s t agram.
jo u r nalists inside K a s h m i r w h o
in t e rviewed for t h i s r e p o r t h av e
b e e n removed t o p r o t e c t t h e m
from governmen t r e p r i s a l .
SUMMARY OF CONTENT
CENSORSHIP AND ACCOUNT
RESTRICTIONS/REMOVAL
A ) P oll Results:
In a p o l l w e posted on T w i t t e r t o
o u r 32,000 follo w e r s , w e a s k ed
K a s h miris whic h p l a t f o r m s t h e y h a d
e x p e rienced ce n s o r s h i p o n . 3 1 1 W h ile 3 K a s hmiri users
p e o ple respond e d – 6 2 % of e x p e rienced ce n s o r s h i p i n t h e
r e s p ondents sa i d t h e y y e a r s from 201 6 - 2 0 1 8 , 1 0 u s e rs
e x p erienced ce n s o r s h i p o f s o m e e x p e rienced so c i a l m e d i a
k i n d on all of t h e t h r e e m a jo r c e n s orship from 2 0 1 9 - 2 0 2 1 .
p l a t forms – Tw i t t e r , F a c e b o o k
a n d Instagram. In another pol l w e
p o s t ed on Instag r a m t o o u r 5 6, 0 0 0
fo l l owers to whi c h 1 4 0 p e r s o ns
re s p onded, 19% o f r e s p o n d e n t s
s a i d they experi e n c e d c e n s o r sh i p
o n T witter, 25% e x p e r i e n c e d
c e n s orship on F a c e b o o k a n d 4 4 %
o n I nstagram.
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 07
#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
K a s h miri users s a i d t h e y w e r e c e n s o r e d i n d i f f e r e n t w a y s — users’
a c c o unts were d i s a b l e d , s u s p e n d e d a n d p e r m a n e n t l y d e l e t ed. Users
re p o rted their a c c o u n t p r i v i l eg e s w e r e r e s t r i c t e d o r a c c o u nt content
w a s removed. U s e r s a l s o s a y p l a t forms offe r e d d i s h o n e s t
t e c h nical reas o n s f o r t h e c e n s o r s h i p o f their accoun t s .
T h e majority of K a s h m i r i u s e rs f e l t t h e p l a t forms did n o t r e d r e s s th e
c e n s orship issue s t h e y w e r e fa c i n g i n a n e f f e c t i v e a n d t i m ely manner.
K a s h miri users s a i d t h e y w e r e h a r m e d b y s o c i a l m e d i a p l a t forms siding
w i t h Indian auth o r i t i e s . C e n sorship imp a c t e d K a s h m i r i u s e r s ’ t r u s t
in t he political n e u t r a l i t y of t h e p l a t f o r m s. He re is what t h e y s a i d :
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 08
#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 09
#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
C) Narratives of Prominent Kashmiri Users Experiencing Digital Censorship:.
N a m e Removed , J o u r n a l i s t , E d i t o r o f K a s h m i r - b a s e d O nline Magazine
(“ M agazine”)
F a c e book first t o o k d o w n t h e Ma g a z i n e p a g e i n O c t o b e r 2 0 1 8 . There was a
g u n f ight between m i l i t a n t s a n d t h e I n d i a n a r m e d f o r c e s i n K u lgam (in southern
K a s h mir). There w e r e u n e x p l o d ed s h e l l s t h a t f o r c e s l e f t b e h i n d . The scene at the
e n c o unter site w a s g r i m . T h e r e w e r e h o u s e s t h a t w e r e b l o w n u p because the
In d i an armed for c e s d o n ’ t p r a ct i c e r e m o v i n g a m m u n i t i o n f r o m the site of the
g u n f ights. Local p e o p l e a s s e m bl e d t h e r e a f t e r t h e g u n f i g h t … s everal people were
k i l l ed and many p e o p l e w e r e i nj u r e d . S o m e p h o t o j o u r n a l i s t s g ot in touch with
m e a nd wanted u s t o p u b l i s h p h o t o s o f w h a t h a p p e n e d . S o , I shared the post
o n o ur Faceboo k p a g e . T h a t p o s t w e n t v i r a l . T h e n , a f t e r t w o h ours I realized I
c o u l dn’t find the p a g e . F a c e b o o k h a d r e m o v e d t h e M a g a z i n e page altogether.
T h e same image s w e r e p u b l i s h e d b y I n d i a n p u b l i c a t i o n s l i k e Outlook on their
F a c e book page b u t t h o s e w e r e n ’ t t a k e n d o w n .
I wa s able to ge t i n t o u c h w i t h s o m e o n e a t F a c e b o o k t h r o u g h a friend. After two
d a y s , the Facebo o k p a g e w a s r es t o r e d b u t I n s t a g r a m h a s s i n c e stopped me
from doing busin e s s p r o m o t i o ns . I n s t a g r a m d i d n o t n o t i f y m e about this. …I
th i n k since it is o w n e d b y F a c e b o o k , t h e a l g o r i t h m m u s t w o r k in a way that
w h e n content on o n e p l a t f o r m is f l a g g e d , t h e o t h e r f l a g s i t t o o. Tech experts
h a v e told me tha t c o n f l i c t o r h um a n r i g h t s - r e l a t e d c o n t e n t d o e sn’t get as much
v i s i bility on soci a l m e d i a b e c a u s e o f h o w t h e a l g o r i t h m i s s e t u p. But for us, it
is t he core of wha t w e c o v e r a n d w i t h t h e c e n s o r s h i p , t h e p o s s ibility of reaching
m o re audiences i s m u c h h a r d e r .
A f t e r Aug. 5, 2019 , K a s h m i r - b a s e d m e d i a a c c e s s e d t h e i n t e r n e t through a
g o v e rnment-run I n f o r m a t i o n C e n t e r , b e c a u s e o f t h e t e l e c o m m u nications
s h u t down institu t e d a t m i d n i g ht o n A u g . 4 . T h e r e w e r e f i v e o r six computers for
a r o u nd 400 jou r n a l i s t s , i n c r e a s e d o v e r t i m e t o t e n o r f i f t e e n . A t the Center, you
c o u l d only acces s t h e i n t e r n e t fo r 1 0 o r 1 5 m i n u t e s a t m o s t a day. The place
w a s completely s u r v e i l l e d — t h e p o l i c e w o u l d r e c o r d i n f o r m a t i o n of who would
c o m e and go, the r e w e r e a r m e d p o l i c e p e r s o n n e l r i g h t o u t s i d e the computer
ro o m . You woul d g e t c h e c k e d u p b e f o r e y o u e n t e r e d t h e b u i l d ing and there was
a b o dy detector. W h e n 2 G i n t e rn e t w a s t u r n e d o n l a t e i n F e b r uary 2020, I
a c c e ssed the mag a z i n e o n l i n e an d f o u n d t h a t t h e T w i t t e r p a g e of the Magazine
h a d been suspend e d e v e n t h o u gh w e h a d n o t p u b l i s h e d t h a t m uch in the last
s i x months, neit h e r h a d I a c c e ss e d t h e a c c o u n t . I h a d a s k e d f r iends in Delhi to
p o s t some things o n o u r b e h a l f— l e t t e r s f r o m K a s h m i r i s t o f a m ily members
o u t s ide we hadn’ t s p o k e n t o i n m o n t h s . I r e a c h e d o u t t o T w i t t e r and the page
w a s restored. M y s ense is Hind u t v a - a f f i l i a t e d t r o l l s a r e m a s s - r e p o r t i n g t h e
p a g e and the pla t f o r m s a r e a l l ow i n g t h e m t o d o s o . T h o s e l e t ters were likely
s o m ething that t r i g g e r e d t r o l l s t o m a n i p u l a t e p l a t f o r m s .
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 10#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
Magazine’s Facebook account was restricted from posting in early 2020.
In J uly 2020, I fo u n d t h e M a g a z i n e p a g e w a s a g a i n s u s p e n d e d on Twitter; we were
p u b l ishing maybe o n e p i e c e a mo n t h s o v e r y l i t t l e c o n t e n t . T witter does not tell
y o u why exactly y o u r c o n t e n t wa s t a k e n d o w n w h i c h a f f e c t e d p arties deserve to
k n o w . I appealed t o T w i t t e r , v i a t h e s u p p o r t t a b , i n J u l y , t h e n in December, then
a g a i n in April 2 0 2 1 . T h i s t i m e I t o l d t h e m I a m j o u r n a l i s t a n d I have a verified
T w i t ter account w i t h a b l u e t i c k. T h e y i m m e d i a t e l y r e s t o r e d i t i n two hours.
F o r online publi s h e r s , o u r e n t i re d i s t r i b u t i o n s y s t e m i s s o c i a l media. How will
p e o p le find us w i t h o u t t h e s o c i al m e d i a p l a t f o r m s ? T h e y a r e o u r lifelines. I am a
jo u r nalist and e d i t o r … t h i s i s w ha t I d o a n d h o w I s u r v i v e i n m y profession. As a
K a s h miri, I am e x p r e s s i n g t h e ex p e r i e n c e o f t h e c o m m u n i t y . W e have a rigorous
p r o c ess of verifyi n g t h e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n w e r e c e ive. On top of the
in t e rnet censors h i p w e e x p e r i e nc e , t h e r e a r e s e v e r a l o t h e r l a y ers of censorship.
S o c i al media com p a n i e s n e e d t o m a k e t h e i r p l a t f o r m s a c c e s s i b le and
a c c o untable. Wha t a r e t h e T w i tt e r a n d F a c e b o o k C o m m u n i t y G uidelines? It is not
c l e a r what they a r e a n d w h e n th e y a r e v i o l a t e d . T h e i n t e r n a l m echanisms are
o p a q ue—who is i n c h a r g e w i t h i n t h e s e c o r p o r a t i o n s o f o v e r l o oking what content
is t aken down an d w h a t i s c i r c ul a t e d ? T h e s e c o m p a n i e s a r e i n the public sphere,
a n d they need to b e a c c o u n t a bl e a n d t r a n s p a r e n t a b o u t t h e i r processes. They
n e e d to look at t h e v e r a c i t y o f th e m a s s - r e p o r t i n g s y s t e m . T h e y use algorithms
w h i c h are not ch e c k i n g f a c t s a nd a r e o p e n t o m a n i p u l a t i o n . T hese companies
h a v e massive res o u r c e s t o i n v e st i n d e s i g n i n g s y s t e m s t h a t a r e trustworthy.
S o c i al media com p a n i e s s a y b i g t h i n g s a b o u t f r e e d o m o f s p e e c h and press
free d om. They sa y t h e y w a n t t o c o n n e c t t h e w o r l d b u t w h e n i t comes down to
m a rg inalized com m u n i t i e s , t h e y c o m p l y e v e r y t i m e w i t h w h a t t he government and
th e i r trolls tell th e m t o d o . T h e re h a v e b e e n p r o m i n e n t p e o p l e who openly called
fo r genocide in K a s h m i r o n T w it t e r … t h o s e k i n d s o f n a r r a t i v e s get millions of
v i e w s and are no t t a k e n d o w n . H o w d o e s t h i s w o r k ?
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 11#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
H u m a Dar, Lect u r e r , U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a , B e r k e l e y, Department
o f G ender & Wo m e n ’ s S t u d i e s a n d E t h n i c S t u d i e s
M y F acebook ac c o u n t w a s p e r m a n e n t l y d i s a b l e d t h e d a y a f t e r Burhan Wani
(K a s hmiri rebel k i l l e d i n a n e n co u n t e r w i t h I n d i a n a r m e d f o r c e s) was martyred.
I ha d never even r e c e i v e d a w a rn i n g . A f t e r B u r h a n w a s m a r t y r ed, people in
K a s h mir sent m e p h o t o s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e f r o m B u r h a n ’ s f u n e r al with a massive
tu r n out, images l a t e r p u b l i s h e d i n m e d i a h o u s e s . I h a d p o s t e d these photos
w i t h the customa r y M u s l i m f u n er a l p r a y e r , ‘ i n n a l i l l ā h e w a i n n a ilāyehe
rā j e ’ūn…’. This is o u r M u s l i m d u t y f o r a n y h u m a n b e i n g … i t m e ans we are all
from Allah and t o A l l a h w e r e t ur n . I a l s o d e e p l y r e s p e c t B u r h a n Wani and what
h e s tood for—fre e d o m f o r K a s hm i r . M o s t o f m y p o s t s w e r e p u blic at the time.
T h e r e was a Delh i - b a s e d y o u n g w o m a n w h o t o l d m e m y F a c e b ook posts on
K a s h mir were dis a p p e a r i n g a n d I t h o u g h t t h a t w a s s o s t r a n g e . In the morning, I
g o t a call from a f r i e n d s a y i n g m y a c c o u n t w a s g o n e , a n d w h e n I checked that’s
w h a t it was: I cou l d n o t f i n d m y a c c o u n t , I c o u l d n ’ t l o g o n . I c ontacted
F a c e book and a f t e r m a n y d a y s w a s t o l d m y p o s t s h a d v i o l a t e d the Community
G u i d elines. Iron i c a l l y , I w a s l i v in g a m i l e a w a y f r o m t h e F a c e book headquarters
in M enlo Park an d t h i s w a s h a pp e n i n g t o m e ! I t a u g h t m u c h of the stuff I
p o s t ed on Facebo o k a n d p o s t e d m a t e r i a l o n F a c e b o o k f r o m w h at I taught: most
o f m y academic n e t w o r k a n d e n t a i l e d c o n v e r s a t i o n s a n d d i s c u ssions had
a l r e ady migrated t o F a c e b o o k . F a c e b o o k r e f u s e d t o i d e n t i f y w hich particular
p o s t had violate d t h e i r G u i d e l i ne s , a n d d i d n o t r e s p o n d t o w h y I wasn’t asked to
d e l e te the “offend i n g ” p o s t , l i k e s o m e o t h e r I n d i a n a c a d e m i c a cquaintances had
b e e n asked to. T h e y t o l d m e t h er e w e r e n o a p p e a l s a v a i l a b l e and it was their
fina l decision to p e r m a n e n t l y d i s a b l e m y a c c o u n t . L a t e r t h a t w eek, Facebook
Huma Dar’s Facebook account was permanently disabled after she posted a funeral prayer for slain rebel, Burhan Wani. Posts
she liked from that account show her information as not being available, even though the digital memory of “liking” remains.
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 12#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
re s p onded to a j o u r n a l i s t f r o m T h e G u a r d i a n w h o w a s w r i t i n g about this
c e n s orship and t o l d h e r m y a c co u n t w a s d e l e t e d b e c a u s e I w a s posting about
s o - c alled “terrori s m ” a n d t h a t I w a s n o t c o n d e m n i n g i t . I c o n t est this
d e t e rmination. H o w c a n s a y i n g a p r a y e r f o r a n y p e r s o n m a k e me a supporter of
te r r orism? Who d e t e r m i n e s w h o i s a “ t e r r o r i s t ? ” I f a l m o s t o n e - tenth the
p o p u lation of Ka s h m i r t u r n e d up , m o u r n i n g , f o r B u r h a n W a n i ’s funeral service,
th a t too after a l o c k d o w n o n a ll m o b i l e i n t e r n e t s e r v i c e s , w h o is the terrorist?
T h e prior month, J u n e 2 0 1 6 , w as t h e 1 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y o f m y h aving opened a
F a c e book accou n t — a l s o , c o i n c i d e n t a l l y l i n k e d t o K a s h m i r . I w a s visiting family
in K ashmir, for t h e v e r y f i r s t t i me i n m y l i f e , a n d p o s t i n g p h o t ographs every
n i g h t on Faceboo k w a s t h e q u i ck e s t w a y t o s h a r e m y d a i l y c a c he of multiple
p h o t os with my i m m e d i a t e f a mi l y i n t h e U . S . F a c e b o o k s t a r t e d functioning as a
h u b of sociality f o r m e . I f o u n d l o n g - l o s t r e l a t i v e s o n F a c e b o ok, and made some
b e s t friends the r e . I h a d p o e m s t h a t I h a d w r i t t e n o n l y o n F a c ebook, poems I do
n o t have a copy o f a n y w h e r e e ls e . I p o s t e d n o t e s o n F a c e b o o k , notes that were
b e i n g cited by a c a d e m i c c o l l e a gu e s . I h a d i n t e r e s t i n g a n d i n v i gorating
d i s c ussions on F a c e b o o k . I l o s t s o m a n y c o n v e r s a t i o n s f r o m m y inbox—one with
a c l ose friend w h o h a d s u d d e n ly d i e d j u s t a f e w m o n t h s b e f o r e then… All of that
w a s erased. I ne v e r i m a g i n e d I w o u l d l o s e a n y c o n t e n t I p o s t e d to my own
time line. I was a v e r y a c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t o r o n t h e F a c e b o o k g r oup Kashmir
S o l i darity Netwo r k — a l l m y i n t er v e n t i o n s t h e r e a r e n o w l o s t . E x cept that one can
s t i l l s ee the gho s t o f m y o l d a c co u n t t h a t h a u n t s F a c e b o o k — m y interactions,
c o m ments left on o t h e r f r i e n d s ’ p o s t s a n d e v e n “ l i k e s ” h a v e l e ft a faint digital
trac e all over the s t r a n g e v i r t u a l s p a c e . F o r e x a m p l e , o n e c a n tell I liked a post,
b u t no one can s e e m y n a m e . Or o n e c a n s e e I m u s t h a v e p o s ted a comment to
w h i c h others res p o n d e d , s o m e ti m e s n a m i n g m e i n t h e i r r e s p o nses. My
c o m ments, thou g h , a r e a l l g o n e . M y i n t e r l o c u t o r s a r e l e f t t a l k i ng to a “ghost.” I
h a v e been forcib l y d i s a p p e a r e d f r o m F a c e b o o k : j u s t a f a i n t d i g ital trace
re m a ins behind.
Twitter Legal wrote to Huma Dar of the potential illegal nature of her posts under Indian law.
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 13#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
T w i t ter also ema i l e d m e s a y i n g t h r e e t w e e t s o f m i n e a r e a g a i nst Indian law—
tw o highlighted i n t h e a b o v e e ma i l , a n d o n e i n a n o t h e r s u b s e quent email—and
th a t I should de l e t e t h e m b e c a us e t h e y v i o l a t e I n d i a n l a w . B u t I am not based
in I ndia, neither i s m y a c c o u n t b a s e d i n I n d i a . I a m n o t I n d i a n by nationality or
re s i dency…why is I n d i a n l a w b ei n g h e l d a t m y n e c k ? W h a t w i l l it be after this?
B u r m ese law? O r N o r t h K o r e a n l a w ?
I be l ieve these pl a t f o r m s a l i g n t h e m s e l v e s w i t h p a r t i e s i n p o w er. The
g o v e rnment has a n “ i n ” w i t h s o c i a l m e d i a c o r p o r a t i o n s t o t a k e down content at
th e i r behest witho u t a n y d u e p r o c e s s . T h e s e c o m p a n i e s n e e d e thical teams
c o m prised of res e a r c h e r s , a c a de m i c s a n d e x p e r t s o n i s s u e s t o see whether
c o n t ent needs to b e t a k e n d o w n. T h e r e i s a l o t o f i n f o r m a t i o n out there and
th e s e companie s h a v e e n o u g h r e s o u r c e s t o d o t h i s . T h e s e a r e q uestions with
g l o b al relevance … w h a t s h o u l d be t h e a p p r o a c h t o c o n t e n t f r o m Myanmar?
W h a t about Kas h m i r ? W h a t a b o u t P a l e s t i n e ? N o t e v e r y t h i n g i s acceptable
s p e e ch, I unders t a n d t h a t … w e ca n n o t c o n d o n e r a c i s m a n d h a t e but social
m e d ia companie s c a n n o t r e l y o n t r o l l s a n d g o v e r n m e n t s t o t e ll them what the
a n s w ers are.
M i r Suhail, Ne w Y o r k C i t y B a s e d , P o l i tical Cartoo n i s t
F a c e book remov e d a d r a w i n g f r o m m y a r t i s t p a g e f o r t h e f i r s t time on Feb. 9,
2 0 1 6 . I rememb e r t h a t d a t e . I h a d d r a w n f o r A f z a l G u r u .8 I t w a s the second or
th i r d anniversar y o f h i s u n j u s t h a n g i n g . H i s f a m i l y w a s d e m a nding the return of
h i s body…he ha d b e e n b u r i e d i n T i h a r j a i l w h e r e h e w a s h u n g and remains
th e r e. I had sho w n t h e r o o t s o f h i s g r a v e c o n n e c t i n g w i t h t h e roots of a tree in
K a s h mir—the im a g e w a s a m e t a p h o r f o r l o n g i n g . F a c e b o o k r e stricted my page,
a n d I couldn’t p o s t a n y t h i n g o r m e s s a g e a n y o n e f o r 2 4 h o u r s . I could still see
p o s t s but couldn ’ t w r i t e o r e d i t a n y t h i n g . I w a s w o r k i n g i n R i s i ng Kashmir at the
time , a local da i l y i n K a s h m i r . I b e l i e v e R i s i n g K a s h m i r h a d p ublished this
c a r t oon in the n e w s p a p e r t o o , bu t t h e g o v e r n m e n t d i d n ’ t b o t h er them about it!
It w a s only a pr o b l e m o n F a c e bo o k b e c a u s e o f I n d i a n t r o l l s .
Facebook took down this cartoon by Mir Suhail on Feb. 9, 2016.
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 14#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
L a t e r in 2016, t h e r e w a s a n u p ri s i n g a f t e r t h e k i l l i n g o f B u r h a n Wani. I was
w o r k ing from hom e b e c a u s e K as h m i r i s w e r e l i v i n g u n d e r s i e g e. The government
h a d blocked cell u l a r i n t e r n e t a nd o n l y b r o a d b a n d w o r k e d . I s tarted living at my
c o u s in’s house w h o h a d b r o a d ba n d c o n n e c t i v i t y . E v e n w i t h a c urfew pass, it
w a s hard to reac h o n e ’ s o f f i c e s. N o b o d y w a s o n t h e r o a d s e x c ept for the Indian
m i l i tary so I didn ’ t w a n t t o r i s k g o i n g t o t h e o f f i c e . F r o m m y c ousin’s home,
a c c e ss to the in t e r n e t w a s s l o w b u t m a n a g e a b l e .
S o o n afterwards, I w a s l e t o f f wo r k a n d I m o v e d t o D e l h i … I d i d n’t draw on
K a s h mir after 20 1 6 i n D e l h i , a s w o r k i n g f o r a p r o m i n e n t n e w s media
o r g a nization the r e w a s a n e x p li c i t b a n f o r m e t o d r a w o n K a s hmir. When the
P u l w ama attack h a p p e n e d i n 2 0 1 9 — K a s h m i r i m i l i t a n t s a t t a c k ed a camp of the
In d i an armed for c e s — i n c i d e n t al l y I h a d p o s t e d a c a r t o o n b e f o re the attack on
T w i t ter, I can’t r e m e m b e r w h a t c a r t o o n i t w a s . I g o t t r o l l e d , t h ere was a lot of
Is l a mophobic abu s e , m y e d i t o r a s k e d m e t o d e l e t e t h e p o s t w h ich I did.
I mo ved to New Y o r k C i t y i n 2 0 20 , I s t a r t e d d r a w i n g o n K a s h m ir again. In early
2 0 2 0 , on an almo s t d a i l y b a s i s, I s t a r t e d g e t t i n g n o t i f i c a t i o n s that my
In s t agram posts w e r e b e i n g r e mo v e d f o r “ h a t e s p e e c h o r s y m bols.” Other posts
w e r e removed for n o t f o l l o w i n g “ c o m m u n i t y g u i d e l i n e s . ” T h e y also warned me
m y a ccounts wo u l d b e d e l e t e d . T h e s a m e t h i n g w a s h a p p e n i n g on Twitter. I was
d r a w ing on diffe r e n t s u b j e c t s r el a t e d t o t h e e x p e r i e n c e s o f m a rginalized
c o m munities in I n d i a — a b o u t t he e x p e r i e n c e s o f I n d i a n M u s l i ms, the new
c i t i zenship laws — a n d o n K a s h mi r .
Facebook and Instagram recently deleted Mir Suhail’s cartoon on the rumors in Kashmir about India’s plans to change
the cartography of the region. Twitter automatically puts a sensitivity filter on every post from Suhail’s Twitter account.
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 15#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
I di d n’t reach out t o F a c e b o o k , T w i t t e r o r I n s t a g r a m d i r e c t l y , b ut I shared this
e x p e rience onlin e . O n e o f m y F ac e b o o k f r i e n d s w h o i s a p r o m i nent activist in
th e U.S. reached o u t t o m e a n d I t o l d h e r t h e d e t a i l s o f w h a t had happened.
S h e in turn reac h e d o u t t o f o l k s w h o w o r k i n t h e s o c i a l m e d i a platforms. After a
fe w days, my car t o o n s w e r e o n t h e p l a t f o r m s a g a i n , s o I t h o u ght the matter was
re s o lved. But th e n a g a i n , m a y be a f t e r a m o n t h o r s o , o n e o f my posts on
In s t agram and Tw i t t e r w a s d e l et e d . T h e n r e c e n t l y , a n o t h e r o n e was. I didn’t do
a n y t hing about t h a t . I t i s h a r d t o s p e n d e n e r g y o n t h i s e v e r y time.
T o t his day, there i s a s e n s i t i v i t y f i l t e r o n m y T w i t t e r a c c o u n t f or each and
e v e r ything I pos t , e v e n i f i t i s s om e t h i n g e n t i r e l y u n r e m a r k a b l e . Clearly, there is
n o c ase-by-case d e t e r m i n a t i o n f o r e a c h p o s t t o s e e i f t h e c o n t ent merits a filter;
th e filter is appl i e d t o a l l o f t h e c o n t e n t I p o s t . M y T w i t t e r r e a ch is also
re d u ced. On Face b o o k a n d I n s ta g r a m , I h a v e o v e r 5 0 , 0 0 0 f o l l o wers and
th o u sands of sha r e s e a c h d a y . B u t o n T w i t t e r , m y f o l l o w i n g i s substantially
limi t ed—maybe 1 5 , 0 0 0 . T h i s i s a l s o a f o r m o f c e n s o r s h i p , a n d it is difficult to
p e r c eive because t h e a l g o r i t h m i s m a n i p u l a t e d w i t h o u t t h e u s er’s knowledge.
I sh a re my work o n t h e s e p l a t f or m s a n d i n d o i n g s o t r u s t t h e m to be ethical in
h o w they handle i t . T h e s e p l a t f or m s s a y t h e y a r e t h e p r o t e c t o r s of free speech
b u t in Kashmir t h e y a r e h a n d - i n- g l o v e w i t h t h e o c c u p i e r . I d o n ’t trust social
m e d ia anymore, t h e y c a n e r a s e m y e x i s t e n c e a t a n y m o m e n t . I have worked in
th i s field for a l o n g t i m e . I d o n ’ t t a r g e t r e l i g i o n o r r a c e a s s u c h—my work is
a b o u t power, and m y j o b i s t o sp e a k o n t h e s u b j e c t . I t h i n k t h e platforms
re m o ve content a t t h e a s k i n g o f t h e I n d i a n g o v e r n m e n t . T h e B JP IT cell has a
h u g e role in mob i l i z i n g t r o l l s a nd f a k e a c c o u n t s t o m a s s r e p o r t pages. The
p l a t forms need t o i n v e s t r e s o u rc e s i n s e e i n g w h o r e p o r t s a n a c count—it is easy
to i dentify whet h e r a n a c c o u n t i s f a k e . I n s t e a d o f r e m o v i n g f a ke accounts, it
s e e m s easier for p l a t f o r m s t o r em o v e t h e v o i c e s o f t h o s e w h o a re already
m a rg inalized in s o c i e t y . A n d a s f o r d r a w i n g a g a i n s t t h e g o v e r n ment—that is a
b a s i c democratic r i g h t — i f t h e pl a t f o r m s d o n ’ t s i d e w i t h d e m o cracy, then they
a r e siding with a u t o c r a c y .
N a m e Removed , C o - F o u n d er o f K a s h m i r i E d u c a t i o n a l Website
(“ W ebsite”)
B e f o re we create d t h e W e b s i t e , w e s t a r t e d w i t h a p a g e o n F a c ebook and Twitter
in 2 013. We woul d s h a r e t e x t wi t h p i c t u r e s a b o u t t h e h i s t o r y o f Kashmir from
1 9 4 7 onwards, h i g h l i g h t i n g i m p o r t a n t h i s t o r i c a l d a t e s . W e r a n the page for two
o r t hree years a n d a r o u n d 2 0 1 6 w e s t a r t e d t h e W e b s i t e . I t w a s exclusively
d e v o ted to histo r i c a l e v e n t s . T he r e w e r e n o d o n a t i o n s , w e s p e n t a bit of our
o w n money on t h e w e b s i t e , i t d i d n ’ t n e e d t h a t m u c h m o n e y . W e would curate
th e content on o u r o w n . W e a l so s t a r t e d a d i g i t a l r e p o s i t o r y w hich contained
im p o rtant articl e s , b o o k s , d o c um e n t a r i e s a n d a r c h i v a l m a t e r i al on Kashmir. It
fe a t ured over 10 0 d i g i t a l b o o k s— a l l f o r e d u c a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s .
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 16#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
B y 2 017, our Fac e b o o k p a g e h ad u p w a r d s o f 9 0 , 0 0 0 l i k e s . T h en, Facebook
s t a r ted restrictin g o u r r e a c h … w e w e n t f r o m 1 , 0 0 0 l i k e s p e r p o s t to single
d i g i ts. People w o u l d t e l l m e t h ey c o u l d n o t s e e o u r p o s t s . W h e n I posted from
m y p ersonal acco u n t t o a s k p e op l e i f t h e y c o u l d a c c e s s o u r F acebook page,
m y p ersonal acco u n t w a s r e s t r ic t e d f o r s e v e n d a y s . A f t e r a f e w months, this
h a p p ened again f o r t e n d a y s .
T h e n , in 2018, w e s t a r t e d h a v i ng t r o u b l e w i t h t h e W e b s i t e — a notification
a p p e ared that th e I n d i a n g o v e rn m e n t w a s b l o c k i n g a c c e s s t o i t. The same
y e a r , around Oct o b e r , o u r F a c eb o o k p a g e w a s r e s t r i c t e d f o r 1 0 or 15 days
a n d then restore d . P e o p l e t o l d m e t h e y w e r e n ’ t a b l e t o v i e w t h e material,
th a t the content h a d b e e n r e m ov e d . . . I d i d n ’ t k n o w h o w . W e w e re later
s u m moned by th e l o c a l p o l i c e — t h e y a s k e d r i d i c u l o u s q u e s t i ons: “ Why do
y o u people take u n d u e a d v a n t ag e o f f r e e d o m ? W h y d o y o u h a v e to write
a b o u t everything t h a t i s h a p p e ni n g h e r e ? ”
T h e police alleg e d I w a s g e t t i n g m o n e y f r o m f o r e i g n s o u r c e s a n d threatened
to b ook me with t e r r o r - f u n d i n g c h a r g e s . T h e y a s k e d m e o t h e r things, “How
d o y ou know even t s l i k e t h e m as s a c r e a t G o w k a d a l h a v e h a p p ened?” I
a n s w ered becau s e t h e K a s h m i r p o l i c e h a d i t s e l f f i l e d a F i r s t I n formation
R e p o rt (FIR) aga i n s t t h e a c c u s e d B o r d e r S e c u r i t y F o r c e s i n t h e 1990s for that
m a s sacre. I was r e l e a s e d f r o m th e p o l i c e s t a t i o n a f t e r f i v e d a ys—they said I
w o u ld be watch e d . T h e n , s o m e t i m e l a t e r i n 2 0 1 8 , t h e e n t i r e w e bsite just
d i s a ppeared. We w e r e a b l e t o re s t o r e t h e F a c e b o o k a c c o u n t w i th the help of
a f r iend who wor k s a t F a c e b o o k. E v e n t u a l l y , w e d e c i d e d n o t t o operate our
p a g e s and webs i t e b e c a u s e o f t h e p r o l o n g e d i n t e r n e t s h u t d o w ns and also
b e c a use Facebo o k a n d T w i t t e r c h o k e d u s o u t .
T h e r e is an ecos y s t e m i n w h i c h p r o - K a s h m i r p a g e s a r e c e n s o r e d. Our pages
g o t notifications f r o m F a c e b o o k a n d T w i t t e r a f e w t i m e s t h a t a post violated
C o m munity Guid e l i n e s b u t e a c h p o s t h a d s o u r c e s a n d p r o p e r attributions so
I co u ld not unde r s t a n d w h a t t he a c t u a l r e a s o n s w e r e . T h e c o m panies should
p r o v ide a proper r e a s o n f o r t h e e r a s u r e o f o u r p o s t s … T h e y s hould give us
a n o pportunity t o r e s p o n d , t h e w a y i t i s s e e m s c o m p l e t e l y a r bitrary. I
u n d e rstand the l i m i t s o f s p e e c h… b u t s p e e c h w h i c h i s e d u c a t i onal, which is
s u b s tantiated by s o u r c e s a n d r ep r e s e n t s a c o m m u n i t y e x p e r i e n ce shouldn’t
b e r emoved. If i d e a s o f f r e e s p ee c h d o n ’ t a p p l y t o p a g e s l i k e ours, then I
w o n der whom th e y a p p l y t o ?
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 17#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
WHY CENSORSHIP MATTERS Is r a eli narratives a b o u t
BEYOND KASHMIR P a l e stinian libe r a t i o n w i t h
p l a t forms comp l y i n g w i t h 9 5 % o f
Th e c o m p l i c i t y o f s o c i a l m e d i a Is r a el’s request s t o c e n s o r
corporations with P a l e stine-relate d c o n t e n t .12
authoritarian governments has A c c o rding to a P r o p u b l i c a r e po r t ,
important consequences e v e n within the U n i t e d S t a t e s,
beyond Kashmir, for h a t e speech ru l e s c r e a t e d b y
democracy and free speech in F a c e book—use d b y i t s a l g o r i t hm s
India and across the world. a s w ell as human c o n t e n t
Following the Indian re v i ewers—cons i s t e n t l y l e v e r a g e
government’s negligent e l i t e and govern m e n t n a r r a t i ve s
response to a devastating o v e r those of ma r g i n a l i z e d
second wave of the COVID-19 p e o ple. 13
pandemic, Twitter, Facebook
and Instagram obeyed Indian
government orders to censor LEGAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL
or restrict dozens of posts MEDIA CORPORATIONS’
critical of its handling of the CENSORSHIP
p a n d e m i c .9 T w i t t e r c o m p l i e d
A ) I ndian Laws a s G a g
with government requests to
In s t ruments in K a s h m i r :
censor 52 tweets (including
F a c e book and T w i t t e r h a v e
one tweet of Stand With
c o n t inually side d w i t h t h e I n di a n
Kashmir) that criticized India’s
a u t h orities’ wea p o n i z a t i o n o f l a w
handling of the pandemic.
a n d policy to cu r b K a s h m i r -
Facebook temporarily blocked
re l a ted reportag e a n d a c t i v i s m i n
the hashtag #ResignModi from
th e digital spac e . I n J u l y 2 0 2 0,
v i e w o n i t s p l a t f o r m10 . Beyond
In d i a formalized a s e t o f i n f o rm a l
the pandemic, Twitter has
p o l i cies long-us e d t o s u p p r e ss
repeatedly censored or
lo c a l journalist s a n d p u b l i s h er s i n
restricted prominent profiles
K a s h mir in the f o r m o f p o l i c y
such @watchthestate, which
documents instances of state g u i d ance, dubb e d “M e d iaPolicy–
repression and violence 2 0 2 0” an d issued by t h e
a g a i n s t m i n o r i t i e s i n I n d i a .11 D i r e ctorate of I n f o r m a t i o n a nd
Beyond India, in Israel, the P u b lication Rela t i o n s ( D I P R )14 . Th e
government works with a g u i d ance gives g o v e r n m e n t
network of trolls to silence o f f i cials the po w e r t o d e t e r m in e
online content that challenges w h e ther the pu b l i c a t i o n o f
p a r t icular news c o n t e n t , o n a nd
o f f l ine, constitut e s p a r t i c i p a t i o n
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 18#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
in “ unethical or a n t i - n a t i o n a l p o i n ts to a cult u r e o f c e n s o r sh i p o n
a c t i vities,” and t a k e l e g a l a c t i o n K a s h mir within s o c i a l m e d i a
a g a i nst content d e e m e d a s s uc h .15 c o m panies. The s e r e p o r t s i n d i c a t e
E a r l ier this yea r , I n d i a a l s o th a t such a cult u r e i n t e r a c t s wi t h
in t r oduced new I n t e r m e d i a r y th e policing and s u r v e i l l a n c e
G u i d elines and D i g i t a l M e d i a E t h i c s a p p aratus in Kas h m i r , e n a b l i ng t h e
C o d e modifying t h e I n f o r m a t i o n In d i an governm e n t t o c o n t r o l
T e c h nology Act 2 0 1 1 . T h e r u l e s , K a s h miri narrati v e s . A m n e s t y
p u r p ortedly crea t e d t o c o m b at In t e rnational ha s d o c u m e n t e d h o w
m i s i nformation , a l l o w t h e I n d i a n th e P u b lic Safety A c t— a la w that
fe d e ral governme n t t o h o l d s oc i a l a l l o ws for peopl e t o b e p l a c e d
m e d ia companie s l i a b l e f o r c o n t e n t u n d er administ r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n
c i r c ulated on th e m i n a d i r e c t w i t h out trial fo r y e a r s — h a s b ee n
re p u diation of l o n g - e s t a b l i s h ed u s e d by the Indi a n a u t h o r i t i e s t o
p r i n ciples of ne t n e u t r a l i t y . T he d e t a in Kashmir i j o u r n a l i s t s , l a w y e r s
ru l e s require pl a t f o r m s t o t a ke a n d political ac t i v i s t s f o r s p e ec h
d o w n content t h e g o v e r n m e n t la b e lled as “ant i - n a t i o n a l ” s i n ce
d e e m s objectio n a b l e w i t h i n 3 6 2 0 0 3.20Social med i a c o m p a n i e s h a v e ,
16
h o u rs of obtaini n g n o t i f i c a t i o n. I n in t urn, relied on t h e I n d i a n
its l atest Trans p a r e n c y R e p o r t, g o v e rnment’s c a t e g o r i z a t i o n o f
T w i t ter said the I n d i a n g o v e r nm e n t s p e e ch as “anti- n a t i o n a l ” o r
w a s the second - l a r g e s t s o u r c e i n v i o l ative of “na t i o n a l - s e c u r i t y ” t o
th e world of acc o u n t i n f o r m a ti o n s h a p e their ow n r u l e s f o r w h a t k i n d
re q u ests accou n t i n g f o r 2 1 % o f o f s peech violat e s i t s i n t e r n a l
g l o b al informati o n r e q u e s t s17an d p o l i cies, known a s c o m m u n i t y
th e fift h -largest so u r c e o f g u i d elines. In o n e i n s t a n c e ,
a c c o unt remo v a l r e q u e s t s, wh ich d o c u ments leak e d t o t h e N e w Y o r k
in c r eased by 254 % i n t h e l a t es t T i m e s by Faceb o o k e m p l o y e e s
re p o rting period18 . I n 2 0 1 8 , D a vi d re v e aled the com p a n y m o n i t or s
K a y e , UN Speci a l R a p p o r t e u r o n t h e p o l i tical speech g l o b a l l y , u s i n g a
free dom of exp r e s s i o n a n d o p i n i o n s e t of biased ru l e s w h i c h f a v or
w r o t e to Twitter C E O J a c k D o rs e y g o v e rnments an d t h e f a r r i g h t . I n
a b o ut the comp a n y ’ s d e c i s i o n t o a n o vert governm e n t - f r i e n d l y
c e n s or Kashmir - r e l a t e d c o n t e n t a n d s t r a tegy, Facebo o k r u l e s i n s t ru c t
p r o f iles as indi c a t i v e o f a n m o d erators to c e n sor content
a c c e ssion to “go v e r n m e n t d e ma n d s w i t h the phras e “ F r e e K a s h m i r ”
19
fo r content and a c c o u n t r e m ov a l s . ” a n d deem conte n t t h a t c a l l s f o r a n
in d e pendent Ka s h m i r i l l e g a l i n
A s i d e from the n a r r a t i v e s a n d d a t a In d i a.21In a leaked i n t e r n a l r e v i e w o n
w e h ave gather e d f o r t h i s r e p o r t , th e rise of online c e n s o r s h i p ,
th e r e is pre-exi s t i n g r e p o r t a ge t h a t
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 19#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
G o o gle employe e s n o t e d h o w
1 ) S tandWithKa s h m i r ’ s D i g i t a l
F a c e book and T w i t t e r “ w e r e
C e n sorship
im p licated in th e c e n s o r s h i p of
P l a t forms have p e r s i s t e n t l y
c l a s hes betwee n r e b e l s a n d
c e n s ored Stand W i t h K a s h m i r ’ s
In d i an authoriti e s i n K a s h m i r …
(S W K) Twitter, F a c e b o o k a n d
h i g h lighting the p l a t f o r m s ’
In s t agram acco u n t s s i n c e A u g u s t
c o m plicity with g o v e r n m e n t
2 0 1 9, when the I n d i a n g o v e r n m e n t
c e n s orship.”22
firs t imposed a c o m m u n i c a t i on s
b l a c kout to cont r o l n a r r a t i v e s o f
T h r e e prominen t p r o f i l e s
In d i a’s potentia l a n n e x a t i o n of
c e n s ored by Fa c e b o o k a n d T w i t t e r
K a s h mir. In Sept e m b e r 2 0 1 9 ,
in c l ude: Stand W i t h K a s h m i r ; Fr e e
S W K ’s Facebook a c c o u n t w a s
P r e s s Kashmir, a l i c e n s e d n e ws
b l o c ked from s h a r i n g a n y l i n k s .24
m e d ia organiza t i o n b a s e d i n
S i n c e March 20 2 1 , S W K ’ s F a c e b o o k
K a s h mir; and K a s h m i r P o d c a s t , a
a n d Instagram a c c o u n t s c a n n o t b e
p o d cast run by Ifat Gazia, a
a c c e ssed by us e r s i n K a s h m i r a n d
K a s h miri gradu a t e s t u d e n t a t
In d i a who form r o u g h l y h a l f o f t h e
U n i v ersity of Ma s s a c h u s e t t s ,
a c c o unt audien c e , a m o u n t i n g t o
A m h erst.23An an a l y s i s o f t h e
s h a d ow banning . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e
p a t t erns of cont e n t r e m o v a l an d
re a c h of its Fac e b o o k a c c o u n t h a s
re s t rictions on t h e s e a c c o u n t s,
b e e n restricted s u c h t h a t p o st s
tw o of which are b a s e d i n t h e
w h i c h were ear l i e r o r g a n i c a l l y a b l e
U n i t ed States, i n d i c a t e s m u l t ip l e
to r each 8,000 t o 1 0 , 0 0 0 p e o pl e
la y e rs of online c e n s o r s h i p
a r e now only abl e t o r e a c h 2 , 00 0
d i r e ctly enabled b y t h e p l a t f or m s .
o r s o people.
A c o mmon met h o d o f c e n s o r sh i p
in v o lves the pla t f o r m d i r e c t l y
S i m i larly, Instagr a m t o o h a s
r e m oving user c o n t e n t o r
re s t ricted SWK’s a c c o u n t s i n c e i t s
r e s t ricting prof i l e s a t t h e
fo r m ation. Simpl y c r e a t i n g t h e
b e h est of the I n d i a n
a c c o unt took the S W K a c t i v i s t
g o v ernment , or in response t o
b a s e d in the US t h r e e a t t e m pt s ,
re p o rts from oth e r u s e r s . A s i de
m u l t iple corresp o n d e n c e s w i th t h e
from this, platf o r m s h a v e
c o m pany, and a d v o c a c y t h r o u g h
e m p loyed censo r s h i p
a c t i vist’s perso n a l n e t w o r k s , a
m e th odologies t h a t o p e r a t e a t a n
p r i v ilege many g r o u p s d o n o t h a v e
a l g o rithmic leve l a n d e l u d e
a c c e ss to. Soon a f t e r t h e a c c ou n t
d e t e ction, such a s b y r e s t r i c t in g
w a s created in A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 , th e
th e reach of use r c o n t e n t a n d
a c c o unt’s captio n i n g p r i v i l e g es
m a n ipulating sea r c h r e s u l t s . Th i s
w e r e taken awa y . A f e w d a y s l a t e r ,
fo l l owing docume n t s t h e
th e account co u l d n o t b e s e e n i n
c e n s orship exp e r i e n c e o f t h i s
5 3 c ountries aro u n d t h e w o r l d.
o r g a nization and o f a K a s h m i r-
b a s e d online p o r t a l .
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 20#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
In August 2019, Instagram blocked SWK’s account multiple times, restricting its content in 53 countries and
taking away captioning privileges.
S i n c e October 20 1 9 , T w i t t e r ha s s e n t S W K ’ s h a n d l e m u l t i p l e notices of its
b e i n g in violati o n o f I n d i a ’ s I nf o r m a t i o n T e c h n o l o g y A c t . T w itter then
s u s p ended SWK’ s a c c o u n t i n D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 0 a n d M a r c h 2 0 21. As with
F a c e book and I n s t a g r a m , a n a n a l y s i s o f t h e a c c o u n t d a t a s uggests Twitter
h a s restricted S W K ’ s a c c o u n t r e a c h s i n c e M a r c h 2 0 2 1 . A l t h o ugh SWK has
re a c hed out to t h e p l a t f o r m s r e g a r d i n g t h e s e i n s t a n c e s , t h e companies
h a v e either attr i b u t e d t h e c e ns o r s h i p t o t e c h n i c a l i s s u e s , u nspecified
v i o l ations of “ C o mmunity G u i d e l i n e s ” o r have been un r e s p o n s i v e . At t h e
s a m e time, the p l a t f o r m s h a v e a l s o c h o s e n n o t t o t a k e s t e ps to limit user-
b a s e d manipula t i o n b y p r o m i n e n t t r o l l a c c o u n t s w i t h d o c u m ented links to
th e BJP governme n t i n p o w e r . T h e c o n t i n u e d a l i g n m e n t o f the platforms
w i t h authoritari a n n a r r a t i v e s ac q u i r e s a r e n e w e d s i g n i f i c a nce in light of the
b l o c king of SWK’ s w e b s i t e i n Ka s h m i r a n d I n d i a o n n a t i o n a l security-related
g r o u nds. Social m e d i a p l a t f o r ms p r e v i o u s l y p r o v i d e d a r a r e opportunity for
th e Kashmiri peo p l e t o v o i c e th e i r o p i n i o n w i t h o u t d i r e c t i n terference from
a u t h orities, in a p l a c e w h e r e t h e I n d i a n s t a t e h a s w e a p o n i zed access to
te l e communicat i o n s a n d c o n t r o l s t h e m e d i a s p h e r e h e a v i l y,. However,
in c r easingly the p l a t f o r m s ’ c om p l i c i t y w i t h t h e I n d i a n s t a t e has
im p overished t h i s s p a c e n o t o n l y i n K a s h m i r , b u t a l s o f o r a new generation
o f K ashmiri acti v i s t s i n t h e U ni t e d S t a t e s a s w e l l a s i n t h e b roader diaspora,
th u s enabling a b l a c k o u t o v e r K a s h m i r . F o r e x a m p l e , a d v o c a cy groups such
a s K ashmir Civit a s a n d t h e L e ga l F o r u m f o r O p p r e s s e d V o i ces of Kashmir,
a l s o based outsi d e o f K a s h m i r, h a v e b e e n c e n s o r e d b y s o c ial media
p l a t forms.
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 21#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
Since October 2019, Twitter has sent SWK multiple notices of the alleged illegality of its content
under Indian law.
Government-linked trolls on Twitter have led a coordinated attack to mass-report SWK’s account.
The Cyber Laws & e-Security Division, within India’s Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, has
sent multiple legal notices to SWK about its website and social media accounts hosting content
“detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of the country.”
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 22#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
2 ) K ashmir-Bas e d O n l i n e N e w s P o r t a l ’ s ( “ N e w s P o r t a l ”) Digital
C e n sorship
N e w s media in K a s h m i r o p e r a t e s i n a n e n v i r o n m e n t m a r k e d by extreme
le v e ls of govern m e n t c o n t r o l an d s u r v e i l l a n c e . E d i t o r s a n d newspaper
o w n ers must cu s t o m a r i l y o b t a i n “ v e r i f i c a t i o n ” f r o m t h e C r i m inal
In v e stigation Di v i s i o n ( C I D ) a s p r e r e q u i s i t e t o w o r k i n g i n t he region. The
C I D is a governm e n t a g e n c y r es p o n s i b l e f o r c r i m i n a l p r o s e c ution and
in v e stigation of c r i m i n a l o f f e ns e s , a n d i t s v e r i f i c a t i o n p r o c e ss involves
s u b m itting detai l e d p e r s o n a l in f o r m a t i o n i n r e s p o n s e t o i n formal
in t e rrogation by t h e C I D . Jo u r nalists an d n e w s e d i t o r s a r e r o u t i n e l y
c o n tacted, thr e a t e n e d a n d a t t a c k e d b y a range of s t a t e a c t o r s
in c l uding police a n d p a r a m i l i ta r y f o r c e s a n d i n t e l l i g e n c e p e rsonnel. In
2 0 1 6, the Indian s t a t e b a n n e d p r i n t i n g p r e s s e s f r o m p u b l i s hing copies of
th e daily newspa p e r K a s h m i r Re a d e r f o r t h r e e m o n t h s , a f t er it published
s t o r ies about vi o l a t i o n s o f h u ma n r i g h t s b y I n d i a n a r m e d f orces.25The
s t a t e also contr o l s r e v e n u e a va i l a b l e t o p u b l i c a t i o n s v i a g o vernment
a d v e rtisements — w h i c h f o r m a s u b s t a n t i a l s o u r c e o f i n c o m e for many
p u b lications—a n d f o r w h i c h 4 8 p u b l i c a t i o n s w e r e m a d e i n eligible in 2021
fo r content deem e d p r e j u d i c i al t o I n d i a ’ s n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y interests.26The
e d i t or of News P o r t a l , e l a b o r at e d :
“T h e social medi a e n v i r o n m e n t f o r K a s h m i r i p u b l i c a t i o n s i s n ot good. Businesses
h e r e have been s h u t d o w n s i n c e A u g . 4 , 2 0 1 9 , w h e n t h e p o l i t i cal situation was
d r a m atically tra n s f o r m e d b y I nd i a ’ s a b r o g a t i o n o f A r t i c l e 3 7 0 and later by
m i l i tary-managed C O V I D s h u t d ow n s . T h e p r i v a t e e c o n o m y h a s been crippled
a n d the governme n t a d v e r t i s e me n t s a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e t o p u b l i cations which
w a n t to cover st a t e v i o l e n c e … w e h a v e s w i t c h e d f r o m a n a d v e r t isement model to
a s u bscription m o d e l t o f u n d ou r w o r k . B u t w h e n s o c i a l m e d i a corporations
s h a d ow-ban our c o n t e n t o r s h u t d o w n o u r p a g e s , i t m a k e s i t a lmost impossible
fo r us to contin u e o u r w o r k … o ne o f t h e l a s t w a y s t o r e a c h o u t to the world
c l o s es.
O u r Facebook p a g e w a s f i r s t t a k e n d o w n i n 2 0 1 8 . I w a s t o l d by contacts at
F a c e book that ou r c o n t e n t c r i t ic a l o f I n d i a n P r i m e M i n i s t e r N a rendra Modi was
m a s s-reported. W h i l e t h e p a g e w a s r e s t o r e d , t h e v i r a l i t y a n d i nteractivity of our
c o n t ent afterwar d s w a s d r a m a ti c a l l y r e d u c e d — t h e s a m e s t o r y is with our Twitter
a c c o unt, it is als o s h a d o w - b a n n e d .
T h e nine-month l o n g i n t e r n e t s h u t d o w n f r o m A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 t o M arch 2020
re s u lted in our (m a i n ) w e b p a g e s g e t t i n g r a t e d d o w n o n G o o g l e. Our 10-year-old
d o m ain name wa s b l a c k l i s t e d a n d b l o c k e d b y G o o g l e A d S e n s e for illegal click
a c t i vity…which m e a n s o u r w e b si t e w a s b e i n g a c c e s s e d s o m e 1 ,000 times a
s e c o nd…this wa s t h e r e s u l t o f c y b e r - a t t a c k s o n o u r w e b s i t e . O ur sources within
G o o gle have told u s t h a t t h e c or p o r a t i o n w o r k s w i t h t h e I n d i a n authorities to
m a n ipulate searc h r e s u l t s — c e r ta i n k e y w o r d s a n d w e b s i t e s d o n’t feature as they
w o u ld otherwise, o r t h e y d o n ’ t re c e i v e a s m a n y h i t s . A l l t h i s i s happening at the
a l g o rithmic leve l . ”
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 23#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
B ) U .S. and Inte r n a t i o n a l L aw o v e r another.30 As s t a t e p a r t y to t h e
A n a lysis IC E R D, India is i n v i o l a t i o n o f i t s
In t he United St a t e s , t h e F r e e Speech c o m mitments un d e r t h e t e r m s o f
c l a u se of the Fi r s t A m e n d m e nt o f t h e IC E R D because “ I T c e l l s ” r u n b y
U . S . Constitutio n p r o t e c t s i n di v i d u a l s t a t e actors and p o l i t i c i a n s i n t h e
s p e e ch against g o v e r n m e n t d i g i tal space r o u tinely enga g e i n
re g u lation, unle s s t h e r e g u l a ti o n Is l a mophobic p r o p a g a n d a a n d
fu r t hers a com p e l l i n g g o v e r n m e n t h a t e speech w h i ch ca l l s for the
in t e rest. Legal s c h o l a r s g e n e ra l l y g e n o cide of Ka s h m i r i M u s l i m s .
a g r e e that since s o c i a l m e d i a
c o m panies are p r i v a t e l y o w n e d A c c o rding to the U N G u i d i n g
c o r p orations and n o t g o v e r n me n t P r i n ciples on Bu s i n e s s a n d H um a n
e n t i ties, individu a l s c a n n o t a s s e r t R i g h ts (UNGPs) , s o c i a l m e d i a
c l a i ms of censor s h i p a g a i n s t th e m c o r p orations are u n d e r a
u n d er the First A m e n d m e n t .27 “res ponsibility t o r e s p e c t h u ma n
righ ts” wherever t h e y o p e r a t e,
In i nternational l a w , A r t i c l e 1 9 o f t h e in d e pendently o f t h e
In t e rnational Co v e n a n t o f C i v il a n d re s p onsibilities o f s t a t e s31 . S o ci a l
P o l i tical Rights ( I C C P R ) o b l i g a te s m e d ia corporat i o n s h a v e a s p e c i a l
s t a t e parties to p r o t e c t t h e r i gh t o f re s p onsibility t o w a r d s p r o t e c ti n g
free dom of exp r e s s i o n , i n c l u d i n g t h e th e civil and po l i t i c a l r i g h t s o f
“fre e dom to se e k , r e c e i v e a n d i m p a r t p e o ple living in c o n t e x t s o f
in f o rmation an d i d e a s o f a l l k i n d s ” “h e i ghtened risk , ” s u c h a s t h os e
28
v i a different kind s o f m e d i a . F u r t h e r , livi n g in Indian-o c c u p i e d K a s h m i r .32
s t a t e parties ar e u n d e r a n o b li g a t i o n B u s i nesses, as p a r t o f t h e i r
to p rohibit “pro p a g a n d a f o r wa r ” o r c o m mitment to r e s p e c t h u m a n
c o n t ent that inc i t e s d i s c r i m i n at i o n , righ ts, are obliga t e d t o c o n d u c t
h o s t ility and viol e n c e o n t h e b a s i s o f d u e diligence to “ i d e n t i f y , p r ev e n t ,
n a t i onality, rac e o r r e l i g i o n .29As p a r t y m i t i gate and acc o u n t f o r ” t h e ir
to t he ICCPR, In d i a i s v i o l a t i n g i t s h u m an rights imp a c t s a n d e n ga g e
h u m an rights o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r t h e in p rocesses tha t e n a b l e
te r m s of the tre a t y . T h a t i n c l ud e s re m ediation of a d v e r s e h u m a n
33
e n g a ging in dire c t a n d i n d i r e ct righ ts impacts. I n s u m , s o c i a l m e d i a
c e n s orship of Ka s h m i r i s ’ e x p re s s i o n c o r p orations m u s t t a k e c o n c r e t e
o f t heir political s u b j e c t i v i t y o n s t e p s to avoid c a u s i n g o r e n a bl i n g
s o c i al media, an d b l o c k a d i n g th e i r h u m an rights a b u s e s a n d m u s t
a c c e ss to the di g i t a l s p a c e t h ro u g h a d d ress human r i g h t s i m p a c t s o f
e x t e nded inter n e t a n d th e i r operations . S o c i a l m e d i a
te l e communicat i o n s s h u t d o w n s s i n c e c o r p orations’ ce n s o r s h i p o f
2 0 0 8. Article 4 o f t h e I n t e r n a ti o n a l K a s h miris in the d i g i t a l s p a c e a t t h e
C o n vention on t h e E l i m i n a t i o n o f A l l b e h est of the In d i a n g o v e r n me n t i s
F o r m s of Racial D i s c r i m i n a t i o n in v iolation of th e U N G P s . T h e
(ICE RD) requires s t a t e p a r t i e s t o fa i l ure of socia l m e d i a c o m p a ni e s
o u t l aw hate spee c h a n d c o n d em n a l l to t ake steps to s t o p I s l a m o p ho b i c
p r o p aganda and o r g a n i z a t i o n s b a s e d a n d racist hate s p e e c h d i r e c t ed a t
o n r acial superi o r i t y o f o n e g ro u p K a s h miri Muslims a l s o i s i n
v i o l ation of the U N G P s .
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 24#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
1. S o c i al media cor p o r a t i o n s m u st
im m ediately re i n s t a t e a l l c o n t e n t
r e m oved and a c c o u n t s s u s pe n d e d i n
Social Media Corporations
v i o l ation of inter n a t i o n a l n o r m s o f
free dom of exp r e s s i o n .
2. S o c i al media cor p o r a t i o n s m u st
Recommendations for
u n d ertake a hu m a n r i g h t s i m p a c t
a s s e ssment of t h e s i t u a t i o n i n
K a s hmir, which tak es into acco u n t
In d i a’s military o c c u p a t i o n o f K a s h m i r ;
its h uman rights r e c o r d i n t h e r e g i o n ,
in p articular, its h i s t o r y o f b l o c k a d i n g
te l e communicat i o n s s e r v i c e s ; a n d i t s
c u r t ailment of K a s h m i r i p e o p le ’ s
p o l i tical speech a n d e x p r e s s i on . S u c h
a n a ssessment m u s t i n f o r m t h e
c o r p orations’ po l i c i e s , p r o d u ct s ,
p r o g rams and p a r t n e r s h i p s i n t h e
re g i on with rega r d t o t h e p r o te c t i o n o f
free dom of exp r e s s i o n a n d p r o t e c t i o n
o f p rivacy.
3. C o r p orations m u s t inv estigate
r e p o rts pointi n g t o I n d i a n
g o v ernment a n d p o l i t i c a l pa r t i e s ’
lo n g -standing u s e o f “ I T c e l l s ” for
c r e a ting disinfo r m a t i o n , a n d
s u p p ressing ma r g i n a l i z e d p o p u l a t i o n s
in t he digital spa c e b y t r o l l i n g a n d
m a s s-reporting a c c o u n t s .
D i s i nformation a n d t r o l l a c c o u n t s m u s t
b e r emoved fro m t h e p l a t f o r m s .
4. C o r p orations m u s t h i r e fact-chec k e r s
to l ook at conte n t p e r t a i n i n g to
K a s h mir with a h u m a n r i g h t s an d a n t i -
o c c u pation len s .
5. C o r p orations m u s t m a ke publicly
a v a ilable deta i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n o n
c o n tent or rem o v a l r e q u e s t s b y the
In d i an governm e n t o r a c t o r s a f f i l i a t e d
w i t h it, including t h e n u m b e r o f
re q u ests receive d , t h e n a t u r e o f t h e
re q u est and th e c o r p o r a t i o n s ’ r e s p o n s e
to t he request.m a k i n g p r o c e s s.
Photo: Tauseef Mustafa
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 252. k
3. k
#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR 4. k SEPTEMBER 2021
5. k
6. C o r p orations m u s t p r o vide
t r a n sparency o n t h e r e s t r i c t i o n o r
r e m oval of use r ’ s c o n t e n t rel a ted to
K a s h mir based o n t h e i r c u r r e n t
c o m munity stan d a r d s , g u i d e l i n e s o r
Social Media Corporations
p o l i cy. Social m e d i a c o m p a n i es m u s t
e s t a blish exactl y w h a t p o r t i o n o f t h e
c o n t ent violated i t s c o m m u n i ty
Recommendations for
s t a n dards, guide l i n e s o r p o l i cy o n a
c a s e -by-case bas i s .
7. C o r p orations m u s t s u s pend the u s e o f
A I m echanism s f o r r e v i e w of
K a s hmir-relate d c o n t e n t . T h e y m u s t
fo r m ethics comm i t t e e s o f i n de p e n d e n t
K a s h miri resea r c h e r s , s c h o l a r s a n d c i v i l
s o c i ety groups w i t h e x p e r t i s e i n h u m a n
righ ts and inter n a t i o n a l l a w , to r e v i e w
c o n t ent remova l a n d r e s t r i c t i o n s
re l a ted to Kashm i r , s u b j e c t t o d a t a
p r i v acy and prot e c t i o n r e q u i r em e n t s .
S u c h a committ e e s h o u l d a l s o l o o k a t
th e effectivenes s a n d f a i r n e s s o f
c u r r ent redressa l m e c h a n i s m s m a d e
a v a i lable by the c o r p o r a t i o n s w i t h a
v i e w to regainin g t h e t r u s t o f c e n s o r e d
u s e r s.
8. C o r p orations m u s t d e s ignate spec i f i c
s t a f f member s f o r c o n d u c t in g
o u t reach w i t h civil societ y g r o u p s a n d
a d v o cacy organ i z a t i o n s i n a n i s s u e -
s p e c ific and nee d - b a s e d m a n ne r .
O u t r each staff m u s t h a v e t r a i ni n g i n
h u m an rights to u n d e r s t a n d th e
c o m plexities of a p a r t i c u l a r i ss u e a n d
g a u g e commun i t y n e e d s .
9. C o r p orations m u s t inc rease
in v e stment in H i n d i - l a n g u a g e a n d
H i n glish conte n t m o d e r a t i o n a n d
c r e a te a databas e o f h a t e s p ee c h a n d
Is l a mophobic t e r m i n o l o g y t h a t h a r m s
K a s h miris and ma r g i n a l i z e d
p o p ulations in I n d i a . T h e y m us t a l s o b e
tran sparent ab o u t t h e i r e x i s t i n g
re s o urces to thi s e f f e c t , a n d ho w m u c h
o f c ontent mod e r a t i o n i s d o n e b y
a l g o rithms vs. h u m a n s , a s w e ll a s t h e i r
o v e r all governan c e a n d d e c i s io n -
Photo: Tauseef Mustafa m a k ing process .
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 26#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR POLICY MAKERS
AND GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZATIONS
1 . A mplify the v o i c e s o f
K a s h miri civil s o c i e t y
o r g a nizations, a d v o c a c y
g r o u ps, human r i g h t s
d e f e nders, journ a l i s t s ,
a n d academics, i n c l u d i n g
in r elation to the
c e n s orship the y f a c e .
2 . A pply pressur e o n
s o c i al media cor p o r a t i o n s
to a dhere to int e r n a t i o n a l
le g a l standards f o r
h u m an rights a n d
free dom of exp r e s s i o n ,
a n d stop abettin g I n d i a ’ s
s i l e ncing of Kas h m i r i
v o i c es. Consider t a k i n g
le g a l action aga i n s t s o c i a l
m e d ia corporat i o n s i f
th e y don’t ame n d t h e i r
b e h avior.
3 . I ncorporate K a s h m i r i n
th e i r analysis,
n e t w orking, and a c t i o n o n
c o n t ent modera t i o n a n d
d e p latforming is s u e s .
4 . D ocument an d r e p o r t
v i o l ations of Ka s h m i r i s ’
d i g i tal rights to
in d e pendent mo n i t o r i n g
n e t w orks. “#Instagram eat my artwork” – by Mir Suhail
Art by APDP
#STANDWITHKASHMIR 27#STOPCENSORINGKASHMIR SEPTEMBER 2021
1. A ‘Lawless Law’: Detentions Under Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, Amnesty International
(2011), see https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ASA20/001/2011/en/ ; India: Investigate the
Use of Lethal Force in Kashmir, Human Rights Watch (2016), see
https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/07/12/india-investigate-use-lethal-force-kashmir.
2. Occupation in Kashmir can be analyzed from a legal lens, but it also exists as an affective category
delineated by the ways in which Kashmiris experience everyday life in the region. According to the
Occupation law, a branch of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), occupation exists when territory
is actually placed under the authority of a hostile army. It is presumed that occupation is a
temporary measure and that until sovereignty is not restored to the occupied people, the occupier
will preserve the existing laws and institutions of the occupied territory. According to Occupation
and Other Forms of Administration of Foreign Territory, a report from expert deliberations of the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the following elements establish the existence of
military occupation: 1) the presence of foreign forces exercising effective control of the land 2) the
ability of foreign forces to exercise authority over the territory 3) the nonconsensual nature of
occupation. While both International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and IHL apply to the situation in
Kashmir, IHL governs because India refuses to acknowledge the sovereignty of the Kashmiri people
over the territory following the end of the British colonialism in the subcontinent and the partition in
1947. Kashmir is occupied by India because 700,000 Indian armed personnel have exercised
effective control over the territory since at least 1989, when the movement for armed resistance to
Indian rule gained momentum. The control of Indian forces over Kashmiri territory is belligerent
because the Kashmiri movement for self-determination is backed by the overwhelming majority of
Kashmiris.
It is likely that Indian occupation in Kashmir dates to 1947-1948, when India and Pakistan fought
the first war over Kashmir which precipitated a division in control of the territory between India and
Pakistan across the Line of Control (LOC)—not recognized as an international boundary but one
which functions much like a border. Following the war, the ruler of the princely territory of Jammu &
Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, entered into a treaty with the Indian Union known as the Instrument
of Accession under the terms of which Kashmir acceded to India, subject to a plebiscite to be
conducted amongst the population to determine the will of the people. Following the principle of
self-determination, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions Number 38 (1948) and 47
(1948) urge India and Pakistan to create proper conditions for free and fair plebiscite to determine
the political future of Kashmir. Such a plebiscite has not been held to date and its non-occurrence
deeply marks the Kashmiri collective memory. While the legitimacy of the treaty agreement itself is
disputed by historians, legal experts say its terms, even if considered legitimate, have since been
violated through executive action by India since the 1950’s and most recently by the termination of
Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status in the Indian constitution by the abrogation of Article 370 in
August 2019. Legal experts say Indian presence in Kashmir today is legitimated by military force
alone.
For more information, see: Occupation and Other Forms of Administration of Foreign Territory,
International Committee of the Red Cross (2021), see
https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/assets/files/publications/icrc-002-4094.pdf; Duschinski et. al., Resisting
Occupation in Kashmir, University of Pennsylvania Press (2018); Noorani, A.G, A Constitutional
History of Jammu & Kashmir, Oxford University Press (2011); From Domicile to Dominion: India’s
Settler Colonial Agenda in Kashmir, 134 Harv. L Rev. 2530 (2020), see
REFERENCES
https://harvardlawreview.org/2021/05/from-domicile-to-dominion-indias-settler-colonial-agenda-in-
kashmir/; Article 370: What happened with Kashmir and why it matters, BBC News (Aug. 6 2019), see
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49234708; Kashmir: Why Article 370 and its abrogation
will prove to be costly, The Daily Star (2019), see https://www.thedailystar.net/in-
focus/news/kashmir-why-article-370-and-why-its-abrogation-will-prove-be-costly-1786936 ; Why are
Kashmiri Muslim nomads being evicted?, Al Jazeera (Nov. 20, 2020), see
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/20/tribal-community-face-eviction-from-forests-in-
kashmir; J&K makes domicile certificate mandatory for admissions to educational institutions,
professional exams, The Hindu (May 21, 2020), see https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-
states/jk-makes-domicile-certificate-mandatory-for-admissions-to-educational-institutions-
professional-exams/article31636972.ece.
3. Genocide Alert for Kashmir, India, Genocide Watch (Aug. 15, 2019), see
https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/2019/08/15/genocide-alert-for-kashmir-india.
4. India’s Internet shutdown in Kashmir is the longest ever in a democracy, Washington Post (Dec. 16,
2019), see https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/indias-internet-shutdown-in-
kashmir-is-now-the-longest-ever-in-a-democracy/2019/12/15/bb0693ea-1dfc-11ea-977a-
15a6710ed6da_story.html.
5. Global Cyber Troops Country Profile: India, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford (2019),
see https://demtech.oii.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/93/2019/05/India-Profile.pdf.
6. Indian Chronicles: Subsequent Investigation: Deep dive into a 15-year operation targeting the EU
and UN to serve Indian interests, Pg. 84, 89, EU DISINFO LAB (Dec. 9, 2020), see
https://www.disinfo.eu/publications/indian-chronicles-deep-dive-into-a-15-year-operation-targeting-
the-eu-and-un-to-serve-indian-interests/.; How ANI Reports the Government’s Version of Truth,
Caravan Magazine (March 1, 2019), see https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/ani-reports-
government-version-truth/.
7. Facebook’s Hate Speech Rules Collide With Indian Politics, Wall Street Journal (Aug. 14, 2020), see
https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-hate-speech-india-politics-muslim-hindu-modi-zuckerberg-
11597423346.
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