New Delhi, Nov 20: Social media site, Twitter, was caught in a massive controversy on Monday as Indian users slammed the site s CEO, Jack Dorsey for holding a political poster during his visit to the country. The photograph was from a gathering where Twitter CEO met people from varied fields.
Jack was photographed holding a poster that read, "Smash Brahminical patriarchy" and posed with a group of women, including journalists, writers, and activists. Users, mainly Right-leaning, outraged against the CEO, accusing him of attacking an "ethnic group" and questioning why only Left-wing individuals were invited to the meet.
Amid the controversy, Twitter India was forced to release an unofficial statement, clarifying that a member had offered the poster to Dorsey and assuring that Twitter believes in hearing all voices.
The storm erupted after a journalist shared a group photograph at the event with Dorsey surrounded by Twitter s Amrita Tripathi, its legal head Vijaya Gadde and other activists and writers.
Sharing the photograph, journalist Anna MM Vetticad wrote, "took part in a roundtable with some of us women journalists, activists, writers... to discuss the Twitter experience in India. A very insightful, no-words-minced conversation."
Throughout the day, Indian users questioned possible reasons the head of a global social media site would decide to hold a poster targeting one group, considering he had not made any such statements through the visit.
By evening, the Twitter India handle defended itself, stating, "Recently, we hosted a closed-door discussion with a group of women journalists and changemakers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack."