Twitter to Techgirl: Shashi Tharoor requested ban
By Bala Shah

Popular micro blogging platform Twitter projects itself as a hub for information sharing. Twitter describes Indian Minister, Shashi Tharoor, as a Twitter Advocate. In Oct, Twitter banned Techgoss writer and satirist Techgirl for spoofing Shashi.  On Nov 1, Twitter suspended an Indian who politely questioned Shashi Tharoor about that ban.

Despite repeated requests, Twitter refused to even acknowledge Techgirl’s emails asking why she has been banned. Was it because of a misguided sense of loyalty to an Indian politician?

As her colleague, I can tell you ignoring Techgirl is wrong and never works.  She wrote about being banned by the dynamic Twitter-Shashi Tharoor duo and soon the story was picked by American technology super blog Techdirt, Indian media watchdog Thehoot and popular blogs like Blogbharti and Jocalling.  At least 10 Twitter users picked up the story.  On Sunday, November 8, Indian most read English newspaper ‘Times of India’ interviewed Techgirl about the Twitter ban. Shashi Tharoor refused comment to Times of India.

A letter was even sent to the American Electronic Frontier Foundation which protects the digital rights on people on the internet.

Last night (Nov 11), the hugely popular Twitter made contact with Techgirl.  In a detailed email, Twitter made it clear that they had ‘received a complaint from a representative of Shashi Tharoor’ about her account impersonating the Indian Minister.  Twitter then suggested the following guidelines to anyone who wants to set up a satire/parody account

“
If your account is a parody account you must add *not* or *fake* to the user name and clearly state *Not affiliated with Shashi Tharoor* on your profile page. The copyright protected image of Shashi Tharoor must also be removed.
Here is an example of a parody account that does not violate our Terms:
http://twitter.com/notsethrogen
“

This is what Techgirl had wanted in the first place from both Shashi Tharoor and Twitter. An explanation on why she was suddenly ejected.  Techgirl tells me that she would have happily changed  text/photo of her satire account if she had received an email raising concerns that it could be mistaken for the real Shashi Tharoor.  Techgirl was only forced to go public after her queries to Twitter went unanswered.

Now that Twitter has made contact with Techgirl, she is keen on getting back to Twitter.  Techgirl told me on a phone interview: “I will start using Twitter again.  It looks to be a promising platform even though it has yet to make any money.  I always saw myself as an ‘early adopter’ of new technology, but this is the first time I was an ‘early ejected’.  I will also send an email to the brilliant Twitter founders not to endorse any politician as an advocate.  They will embarrass you by having you ban their critics”.

Twitter, here comes Techgirl.  Shashi,  the satire (restarts).

(Techgoss had published Nov 9, 2009)

Shashi Tharoor ignores Media on Twitter ban
By Bala Shah

Popular micro blogging platform Twitter projects itself as a hub for information sharing. Twitter describes Indian Minister, Shashi Tharoor, as a Twitter Advocate. In Oct, Twitter banned Techgoss writer and satirist Techgirl for spoofing Shashi.  On Nov 1, Twitter suspended an Indian who politely questioned Shashi Tharoor about that ban.

Despite repeated requests, Twitter refuses to even acknowledge Techgirl’s emails asking why she has been banned.  Perhaps Twitter hoped that by ignoring Techgirl she would go away.

As her colleague, I can tell you ignoring Techgirl is wrong and never works.  She wrote about being banned by the dynamic Twitter-Shashi Tharoor duo and soon the story was picked by American technology super blog Techdirt,  Indian media watchdog Thehoot and popular blogs like Blogbharti and Jocalling.  At least 10 Twitter users picked up the story.

Now India’s largest English newspaper Times of India has reported the Twitter ban of this satire account. In July, 2009, Times of India Online had emerged as the world's No.1 English newspaper website in terms of page views. According to the figures from ComScore, timesofindia.com with 159 million page views in May 2009 even lead international news organizations like New York Times, Sun, Washington Post, Daily Mail and USA Today.

The Times of India article published on Sunday, Nov 8, 2009 reads in part:

“
‘Shashi Tharoor, you broke my heart’
By Anuradha Varma

Techgirl, a fan of Shashi Tharoor, is feeling combative and very miffed, after she found her Twitter account, a satire on the former UN Under-Secretary General, now minister of state for external affairs, shut down without a word of warning.

A Mumbai-based journalist, she says the account clearly stated it was a satire. The first tweet on her erstwhile page proclaimed, “System is suffocating me. Have begged, begged Techgirl to speak for me.” Perhaps, Tharoor feared her Twitter account would become more popular than his own, she wonders. While we’re still awaiting word from Shashi Tharoor and the social networking website, ‘Techgirl’ talks to us in an interview.

Times of India: How does it feel to be banned from Twitter?
Techgirl: It was a shock. I would like to mention that I am a fan of Shashi Tharoor. Our country and polity need such capable people. But my Twitter account clearly stated I was 'Shashi Tharoor Fake' and on the same front page it mentioned the word satirist and even linked to my satire blog. Twitter banned me without even an email questioning me and my satire.

Times of India: Do you think Shashi Tharoor should have been more sporting about it?
Techgirl: My Twitter ‘Shashi Tharoor Fake’ satirised politicians in general and Shashi Tharoor in particular. Looks like he or his aides or followers did not get the joke. I started the Shashi Tharoor Fake account on October 6 and it has built up 100 followers in the first 15 days. Even the real United Nations Information Section (which has 5,000 followers plus) was following me.

My understanding is that only a namesake can request a suspension. Perhaps, Shashi Tharoor was okay with my satire, but feared that my account would become more popular than his.

What made you choose Shashi Tharoor for your fake id?
Shashi Tharoor is the perfect satire target. He is brilliant, good-looking and has had a hugely successful career in the United Nations. Currently, he is a rising star in our political system. And he is on Twitter. Let me add again that I think very highly of him. And, in India, we only rib people we like and are comfortable with.

….
“

Both Twitter and Shashi Tharoor refused to give their side of the story to India’s No. 1 English media group.  Mr. Tharoor, why did you refuse to give Times of India the reasons why you got my colleague Techgirl banned from Twitter?  Make a comment and let the Indian public decide. What do you and your Twitter dost have to hide?

(Techgoss has published the following on Nov 2, 2009)

Twitter suspends Indian who questions ban
By Bala Shah

Popular micro blogging platform Twitter projects itself as a hub for information sharing. Twitter describes Indian Minister, Shashi Tharoor, as a Twitter Advocate. In Oct, Twitter banned  Techgoss writer and satirist Techgirl for spoofing Shashi.  On Nov 1, Twitter suspended an Indian who politely questioned Shashi Tharoor about that ban.

Twitter and Shashi have much in common. They are bright, innovative, hard working and seen as successful leaders of the new web generation.

And what was the question that Indian Twitterer Coolshankin politely and respectfully posed to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shashi Tharoor on Nov 1, 2009 on Twitter itself? It was a non threatening tweet asking the powerful Indian politician on his views on the Twitter ban on Techgoss writer and satirist Techgirl last month? The Tweet is reproduced below

“
Twitter / coolshankin: @ShashiTharoor http://bit. ...
ShashiTharoor http://bit.ly/2mmsRf any response???
“

Indian Minister Shashi Tharoor replied  back on Nov 1 via Twitter that his objection was Techgirl using ShashiTharoorMP on the satire Twitter account. (The same satire account also had the name as Shashi Tharoor Fake and word satire.  But in Shashi’s mind it could be confused with his real Twitter account. The Indian public will now decide if Techgirl overstepped her boundaries of satire or if Shashi Tharoor over reacted)

And then Twitter suspended Coolshankin. 

Equally mysteriously, after a few hours Twitter revoked the suspension of Coolshankin’s Twitter account.  Coolshankin’s response to this Twitter ban and backpedaling has been published as a Bookmark in respected Indian super blog group Desipundit. (Screen dump above). In this screen dump published at the top of this article, Coolshankin says the Twitter suspension does raise questions about censorship.

What is going on?  Was it a bureaucratic bungle at Twitter?  Did one of Shashi’s aides complain?  Or did Twitter decide that it will do everything it can to protect its Indian Advocate from such pesky questions? 

What do you think?

Techgoss disclaimer:  We would like to place on record that we have no business or personal equation with Twitter user Coolshankin. The first we heard of him was yesterday.  But we thank Coolshankin for asking any question that he wants.  After all, the public has a right to know.

If you would like to know more email editor, techgoss.

(Techgoss had published the following article on Oct 27, 2009)

Minister Shashi Tharoor evicts me from Twitter
By Techgirl

Shashi Tharoor is a man of many talents and unique achievements.  A successful author, he served as a UN Under-Secretary General for 5 years.  More recently, he fought a spirited political battle to become a Congress MP from Kerala and was handpicked to become Minister of State for External Affairs. Now Shashi has got me ejected from Twitter.

On Oct 6, I started a Twitter account ‘Shashi Tharoor Fake’.  The bio in this Twitter account had the word satire and the front page even linked to my satire blog techgirltalk.blogspot.com.  The screen dump has been published above. Do you think anyone would mistake it for the real Shashi Tharoor because it says ShashiTharoorMP?  If yes, I apologize for trying to impersonate a powerful Congress politician to satirize other politicians.

Shashi Tharoor has many  achievements in his career.  At only 22 years of age, he earned a PhD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in USA. He has gone on to amass wealth and powerful contacts.

By contrast, I am a Mumbai-based full-time journalist who sometimes cannot afford a taxi to social appointments.  Under a pseudonym, I write for techgoss to supplement my income. While I have job satisfaction, I don’t have money or power. 

In that sense it is an unequal battle.  He is armed with money and contacts.  I write under a pseudonym fearing that I may lose my full-time employment for writing satire. To protect my identity, the Techgoss team even manages my blog and Twitter account. This is so my IP address cannot be compromised.

Perhaps the high point of my satire was when powerful national Indian business paper Mint was kind enough to give me a few paragraphs and link to my satire blog.  The Economic Times did a follow piece on my irreverent satire (many say my sense of humour is just silly) and I was in satire heaven. Mostly my satire is restricted to smaller websites like Techgoss. Satire does not pay well but it enriches my soul. Hopefully, a few people laugh with me.

Shashi and his team have powerful friends at Twitter.  The official Twitter blog (blog.twitter.com) on Oct 14 described Shashi as a Twitter Advocate. In that sense, he is a VIP even on Twitter.

My Twitter account Shashi Tharoor Fake, started on Oct 6,  has built up about 100 followers.  Even the United Nations Information Centre was following me.  By Oct 23, Shashi Tharoor’s team had contacted Twitter in USA to suspend my account.

Shashi Tharoor’s aides never emailed me to ask for clarification.  Till today, Twitter has not given me an explanation on why I am locked out. Perhaps, if they had emailed me before cutting me out,  this article would never have seen light of the day.  Hell hath no fury like a female satirist scorned.

I would like to clearly state that I am a big fan of Shashi Tharoor.  Our country and polity needs such capable people. He has done for public service that I can do in 7 lifetimes. 

Only if Shashi Tharoor and his team would not be so prickly to satire.  In this sense, they are no different to leaders of the regional parties that they purport to despise.

Finally,  you will ask me what kind of Tweets would force a Minister to clamp down on a satirist?  Here are my very first few Tweets sent on Oct 6. The rest are of the same (bad?) quality.

“
ShashiTharoorMP
Youth icon (like me) Rahul Gandhi remarked how Shashi Tharoor Ji is working hard for the country. Zee news reprt http://tinyurl.com/yc4bnr2
about 7 hours ago from web Super athelete PT Usha, I feel your pain abt lack of decent rooms. Once I spent first half of week at Taj and thn moved to Oberoi. Was bad!
about 10 hours ago from web Bofors mystery solved! Telecom Minister (DMK) Raja assured me no politician takes bribes. I trust Raja and so will not request new enquiry
about 10 hours ago from web Boss Krishna rang to say let 'Bofors be bygones' and to talk about Aussie Indians. But I want truth about Bofors. What is Krishana's Leela?
about 19 hours ago from web Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan tells me word Bofors is "unacceptable". She said the same when I twittered abt flying 'CattleClass'
about 19 hours ago from web Gandhi said Truth is my God. Bofors bribes bothering me. Meeting Madam today to press for Supreme Court enquiry to show no bribes taken
about 19 hours ago from web What did I do on Gandhiji Bday? Worked unlike you. Gymed at Oberoi, Pasta at Taj and then twittered. Gave media interviews. Work is worship
10:16 AM Oct 6th from web Cong Party kicked me out of hotel (Wtf?). System is suffocating me. Have begged, begged Techgirl (techgirltalk.blogspot.com) to speak for me
10:12 AM Oct 6th from web
“