The info expertise (IT) ministry has written to all social media firms asking them to take down any content material that refers to an “Indian variant” of the coronavirus, in accordance to a letter issued on Friday which was seen by Reuters.
The World Health Organization stated on May 11 that the coronavirus variant B.1.617, first recognized in India final 12 months, was being categorized as a variant of world concern.
The authorities a day later issued a press release saying media experiences utilizing the time period “Indian Variant” have been with none foundation, saying the WHO had categorized the variant as simply B.1.617.
In a letter to social media firms on Friday, the IT ministry requested the businesses to “remove all the content” that names or implies “Indian variant” of the coronavirus.
“This is completely FALSE. There is no such variant of Covid-19 scientifically cited as such by the World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO has not associated the term ‘Indian Variant’ with the B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus in any of its reports,” said the letter, which isn’t public.
A senior authorities supply instructed Reuters the discover was issued to ship a message “loud and clear” that such mentions of “Indian variant” unfold miscommunication and harm the nation’s picture.
The IT ministry couldn’t be reached for remark.
Around the world, coronavirus variants have generically been referred to by medical doctors and well being specialists on the idea of the place the are recognized. This contains South Africa and Brazil variants.
A social media govt stated it could be troublesome to take down all content material utilizing the phrase as there could be tons of of hundreds of such posts, including that “such a move would lead to keyword based censorship going forward.”
The authorities is going through elevated criticism over its dealing with of the coronavirus pandemic, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state authorities being blamed for not adequately planning for the continuing second wave of coronavirus infections.
India has the second-highest tally of COVID-19 circumstances on the planet and has been reporting round 250,000 infections and 4,000 deaths every day.
© Thomson Reuters 2021
