Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is facing criticism
in India after posing for a picturewhile
holding a religiously offensive sign during
his visit to the country.
in India after posing for a picturewhile
holding a religiously offensive sign during
his visit to the country.
While touring India, a nation that has
been called the new frontier of online
markets and Twitters fastest growing
market, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has
been meeting with students, activists,
and prominent figures including the
country’s Prime Minister, Naendra Modi.
been called the new frontier of online
markets and Twitters fastest growing
market, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has
been meeting with students, activists,
and prominent figures including the
country’s Prime Minister, Naendra Modi.
After a meeting with several journalists
and activists the chief executive and
Twitter’s legal officer, Vijaya Gadde, took a
quick picture while Jack held a sign saying,
“Smash Brahminical Patriarchy”.
and activists the chief executive and
Twitter’s legal officer, Vijaya Gadde, took a
quick picture while Jack held a sign saying,
“Smash Brahminical Patriarchy”.
The photo drew the ire of Hindu nationalists
and members of the Brahmin caste who
claim that the Twitter CEO was engaging in
hateful rhetoric and holding a Hindu-phobic
stance against the Brahmin caste (a religious
minority in the country). Journalists, business
marketers and political figures that Jack
met earlier in his visit also condemned the
sign, labeling it as hate speech.
and members of the Brahmin caste who
claim that the Twitter CEO was engaging in
hateful rhetoric and holding a Hindu-phobic
stance against the Brahmin caste (a religious
minority in the country). Journalists, business
marketers and political figures that Jack
met earlier in his visit also condemned the
sign, labeling it as hate speech.
Twitter is also facing further accusations
that the image is making a politically
charged statement during an election period
for several states. One member of the
Indian Parliament responded to the image
suggesting that the company could face
possible prosecution for attempting to incite
riots, stating it was a fit for “a criminal case
for an attempt to destabilize the nation”.
that the image is making a politically
charged statement during an election period
for several states. One member of the
Indian Parliament responded to the image
suggesting that the company could face
possible prosecution for attempting to incite
riots, stating it was a fit for “a criminal case
for an attempt to destabilize the nation”.
The lightest of the accusations against
Mr. Dorsey have come from Twitter users
like Shagnick Misra, who say that Jack is
simply posing for the imageas a means to
garner attention for his company while
being ignorant of the possible repercussions
of his actions.
Mr. Dorsey have come from Twitter users
like Shagnick Misra, who say that Jack is
simply posing for the imageas a means to
garner attention for his company while
being ignorant of the possible repercussions
of his actions.
Twitter has since apologized for the image
stating that the sign was given to Jack right
before the picture was taken and that the
sign does not reflect the company's views
on Indian culture or the caste system.
A statement that contradicts a previous
report from The Guardian that the sign was
given to Jack just before the start of the
closed-door meeting.
stating that the sign was given to Jack right
before the picture was taken and that the
sign does not reflect the company's views
on Indian culture or the caste system.
A statement that contradicts a previous
report from The Guardian that the sign was
given to Jack just before the start of the
closed-door meeting.
Unfortunately for Jack and Twitter, not only
was the apology not enough stop the rage
from the Hindu nationalist right, but stating
that Twitter as a company does not share
the sign’s message of dismantling Brahmin
patriarchy drew a new wave of anger from
anti-caste activists.
Both sides of the caste debate have been
watching Twitter's response to the situation
very closely and now, although divided in
belief, the activists and Hindu nationalists
seem unified in their disgust of Jack Dorsey.
was the apology not enough stop the rage
from the Hindu nationalist right, but stating
that Twitter as a company does not share
the sign’s message of dismantling Brahmin
patriarchy drew a new wave of anger from
anti-caste activists.
Both sides of the caste debate have been
watching Twitter's response to the situation
very closely and now, although divided in
belief, the activists and Hindu nationalists
seem unified in their disgust of Jack Dorsey.
India is a nation of 1 billion people and
tech firms has been focusing resources
and business in the country as a means
to compete for customers. However some
American tech companies are concerned
that the Indian government may set strict
regulations on U.S. firms in response to the
controversy that Mr. Dorsey has found
himself in the middle of.
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