Special Correspondent
Mumbai: Actress Swara Bhaskar’s X (formerly Twitter) account has been permanently suspended, prompting her to express her frustration in a strongly-worded Instagram post. The actress revealed that her account was locked and subsequently suspended due to alleged copyright violations related to two photos she posted on Republic Day (January 26) and January 30. She shared a screenshot of the notice she received from the X platform on her Instagram account.
In her post, Swara wrote, “Dear X, two photos from two tweets have been described as ‘copyright violations,’ based on which my X account has been locked/permanently suspended. I cannot access it, and your team has approved a permanent ban.” She further questioned the basis of the copyright claims, stating that the photos in question were not infringing on anyone’s copyright.
The first photo, which features a saffron background with the Hindi phrase “गांधी हम शर्मिंदा हैं, तेरे कातिल जिंदा हैं” (Gandhi, we are ashamed; your killers are alive), is a popular slogan used in progressive movements in India. Swara clarified that the phrase is akin to a proverb and carries no intent of copyright violation. She emphasized that the slogan is part of a larger political discourse and should not be misconstrued as an infringement.
The second photo, which shows her daughter holding the Indian flag with her face covered and the caption “Happy Republic Day India,” was also flagged for copyright violation. Swara questioned how this could be considered a copyright issue, asking, “Who holds the copyright to my daughter’s photo? These complaints are absurd, irrational, and untenable under any legal definition of copyright.”
Swara expressed her belief that the suspension was a result of mass reporting aimed at harassing her and suppressing her freedom of expression. She urged the platform to review its decision and revoke the ban, stating, “If these tweets were reported en masse, it was done to harass me, the user, and to suppress my freedom of expression. Please review and reverse your decision.”
This incident has sparked a debate on social media about the misuse of copyright claims to silence dissenting voices. Many users have come out in support of Swara, criticizing X for its handling of the situation and calling for greater transparency in its moderation policies. The suspension of Swara’s account highlights the ongoing tension between social media platforms and users over issues of free speech and censorship.
Swara Bhaskar, known for her outspoken views on social and political issues, has often been at the center of controversies. Her latest confrontation with X underscores the challenges faced by public figures who use social media to express their opinions, especially when those opinions are critical of the status quo.
As the debate continues, many are watching to see how X and other platforms will address similar cases in the future, balancing the need to protect intellectual property rights with the imperative to uphold freedom of expression.
