In an interview with YouTube news show Breaking Points, co-founder Jack Dorsey disclosed that Twitter faced threats of shutdown in India, Nigeria, and Turkey unless it complied with orders to restrict certain accounts. India, in particular, aimed to limit the use of the social media platform by journalists and protesters critical of the government.
Dorsey recounted the challenges faced by Twitter in India, citing instances such as the government’s ultimatum to shut down the platform in the country, raids on employees’ homes, and threats to close Twitter offices. Despite being a democratic nation, India displayed such coercive measures.
While the Indian government denies online censorship, it emphasizes the need to combat misinformation and posts that jeopardize peace and security.
Dorsey also highlighted the similar pressures encountered from Turkey and Nigeria. Both countries had previously imposed restrictions on Twitter, only to lift the bans at later stages.
Regarding Turkey, Dorsey mentioned the multitude of requests received from the government and the constant threats to shut down the platform. Twitter fought legal battles in Turkish courts and often emerged victorious.
In the case of Nigeria, the situation was so precarious that Twitter refrained from placing its employees on the ground due to concerns about potential government actions. Nigeria had suspended Twitter in 2021 after the platform removed a post by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, which contained threats against regional secessionists. The ban was lifted in early 2022 following agreements between Twitter and Nigerian authorities, including the establishment of a local office.
