Recently, the clamour to fight the alleged ideological bias of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have grown louder, especially, from the right-leaning political spectrum. Just a few days ago, the Facebook page of right-leaning portal Rightlog.in was unpublished and the decision was subsequently reversed by Facebook. Twitter CEO had also “fully admitted” that Twitter employees have a ‘left-leaning bias’.
Now, a Twitter user who posts hilarious spoofs especially of Rahul Gandhi has been suspended by Twitter and people are beginning to wonder if his suspension was also owing to his political ideology.
A Twitter user who goes by the handle @Spoof_Junkie has been suspended by Twitter for inexplicable reasons. His earlier avatar as Deewan was also suspended by Twitter earlier. In his earlier avatar as well, Spoof_Junkie would post hilarious spoofs of Rahul Gandhi and people had hoped that he wouldn’t get censored for them. Their fears were realised after Dewan was permanently suspended by Twitter.
Now, when his current avatar @Spook_Junkie has also been suspended, many right-leaning Twitter users saw red.
Ankur Singh questioned Twitter about their selectivity. He pointed towards Twitter’s hypocrisy is tolerating bigots like @AmbedkarCaravan, a handle that regularly spews anti-Hindu hatred and Abhisar Sharma, a journalist who regularly furthers fake news on Twitter but would suspend a harmless spoof handle like @Spoof_Junkie “for making funny videos against Congress”. Ankur alleged that Twitter was suspending people who spoke against Congress.
So @TwitterIndia won’t suspend or remove blue tick of paedophiles of AIB
Won’t suspend bigot @AmbedkarCaravan
Won’t suspend Abhisar Sharma for Fake Videos
But suspends @Spoof_Junkie for making funny videos agnst Congress
If u speak agnst Cong, @misskaul
will get u suspended— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) October 30, 2018
Stop acting like stooges of Congress @TwitterIndia @misskaul, restore account of @Spoof_Junkie NOW!! https://t.co/QcDcx2TDNG
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) October 30, 2018
Many others also questioned Twitter and demanded that his handle be restored. BJP spokesperson Tajinder Bagga said that his suspension was a murder of freedom of speech.
. @TwitterIndia Suspended Diwan @Spoof_Junkie account. His account should be restore ASAP, it’s murder of Freedom of speech by Twitter India
— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) October 29, 2018
Many others too displayed their outrage.
One of the best spoof maker @Spoof_Junkie has been suspended by Twitter. Stop your hypocrisy @TwitterIndia #BringBackSpoofJunkie
— Hardik (@Shut_NoShut) October 30, 2018
What a shame @jack You guys @twitter allow hate spewing handles run but such beautiful unharmful just for fun handles like @Spoof_Junkie suspended ? You @twitter are supporting the Congress party of India ? What a shame Huh
— SuperStar Raj (@rajsan2017) October 30, 2018
Seems @Spoof_Junkie had hit d ecosystem really hard with his funny videos..twitter dsnt hav interest to block most communal and vitriolic accounts who spread fake clips day in out bt bans any anti-establishment account promptly https://t.co/TVK24nZ7eF
— SAMIR (@Samir__Ag) October 30, 2018
There have been several cases where accounts have been restored after being suspended by Twitter. While the reason for Spoof_Junkie’s suspension is not known as of now, one can only wonder if Twitter would pay attention to the demands for his handle to be restored.
