Dorsey met with a group of women journalists, activists, and writers of known political affiliation over a roundtable discussion on how Indians experience the micro-blogging website
New Delhi: Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey faced the brunt of the Twitterati over holding a placard that read ‘Smash Brahminical Patriarchy’ during his recent visit to India.
Dorsey met with a group of women journalists, activists, and writers of known political affiliation over a roundtable discussion on how Indians experience the micro-blogging website.
The event took a sour turn after writer and journalist Anna MM Vetticad handed the placard to Dorsey and posted a photograph of the same on Twitter.
During Twitter CEO 's visit here, he & Twitter's Legal head took part in a round table with some of us women journalists, activists, writers & 's to discuss the Twitter experience in India. A very insightful, no-words-minced conversation 😊 pic.twitter.com/LqtJQEABgV
— Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad)Twitter India retweeted it, with the caption, “Recently we hosted a closed-door discussion with a group of women journalists and change makers 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.”
Recently we hosted a closed door discussion with a group of women journalists and change makers 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. https://t.co/96gd3XmFgK
— Twitter India (@TwitterIndia)Shortly thereafter, the image stirred controversy and Dorsey was severely criticised and trolled on social media.
Twitter users accused the CEO of racism, bigotry, and of engaging in hate speech.
Former Infosys director TV Mohandas Pai tweeted, “What a shame; How can people put such a hate poster and malign a community: @jack How can you as CEO of @twitter be party to this kind of hate? Shocking; this is @brahminphobia of the worst kind”.
What a shame; How can people put such a hate poster and malign a community: How can you as ceo of be party to this kind of hate? Shocking; this is @brahminphobia of the worst kind https://t.co/bWU0eBo9yG
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai)Twitter India later issued a conditional apology for the same, saying, “It is not a statement from Twitter or our CEO, but a tangible reflection of our company's efforts to see, hear and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world”.
It is not a statement from Twitter or our CEO, but a tangible reflection of our company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world.
— Twitter India (@TwitterIndia)Here’s how other Twitter users reacted to the incident:
Short term, Jack Dorsey flashing ‘Smash Brahminical patriarchy’ gets outrage, engagement.
But long term, it reinforces the growing perception that platform and its owner endorse Left hatemongering. Strengthens allegations of bias and shadow-banning rival points of view.
Dear maybe your team didn't feel necessary to tell you this but the poster you are holding targets using the language of hate and violence people who constitute 5% or less of India's 1.3 bln ppl. If that's not hatred towards minorities, what is? Would you do this in the US? pic.twitter.com/z6OKFR82MT
— HindolSengupta (@HindolSengupta)Oops, so looks like did not read the Hateful Conduct policy of . Hi , so you don’t think a poster that says ‘smash ‘Brahminical’ patriarchy ‘directly attacks or threatens an ethnic group’? Really? pic.twitter.com/lzry21wLUR
— Shefali Vaidya (@ShefVaidya)Do you realise that this picture has potential of causing communal riots at a time when several States are going to Assembly Elections in India. Even now an apology is not offered. Actually its a fit case for registration of a criminal case for attempt to destablise the nation.
— Sandeep Mittal, I.P.S. (@smittal_ips)"Smash Brahminical Patriarchy"!
If India's government had any spine, they'd have arrested racist bigot for inciting hate & violence against a community & spreading false information (fake news).
The least they can do is demand an immediate, unconditional apology. pic.twitter.com/ahk3Q5PmJl
Hi , you may want to learn more about Brahmins, since you obviously have a distorted view - in the interest of too, it will be good, if you correct it.
Please see thishttps://t.co/yR8YNTLux4
Must thank for holding up that poster. Loved the way people from every kind of background rose to defend Brahmins.
The entire Purana literature speaks of a stereotype - poor impoverished Brahmin giving selflessly to the world. The respect earned by Brahmins is hard earned
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