Specifically, social media platforms are required to become “more responsible and more accountable” for the content they carry. In other words, the government is giving itself plenty of room to cut Big Tech down to size. To be fair, Big Tech needs reining in for many reasons and India is by no means alone in taking a big swing at Big Tech. Regardless of whether India’s actions are motivated by its recent frustrations with Twitter or part of a wider global trend, we must ask a fundamental question: Who gets to decide what is legitimate free speech — Big Government or Big Tech? This article first appeared in the print edition on February 27, 2021 under the title ‘Live now: India vs Big Tech’.

Source: Indian Express February 26, 2021 22:05 UTC