A DAY after Twitter sparked public outrage by restricting Indian brand Amul's account, the microblogging platform has clarified the actions was part of its routine security processes.
The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation -- which owns the Amul brand of food products -- found its Twitter account blocked on June 4 evening.
On accessing the account, a message saying: "This account is temporarily restricted. You're seeing this warning because there has been some unusual activity from this account. Do you still want to view it?" was displayed.
The move left social media stirred, with many questioning the motive behind Twitter's decision to restrict the account. Heightened tensions at the Indo-Chinese border added fuel to outrage.
Twitteratis linked the restriction of Amul's account with the brand's campaign, supporting an informal boycott of Chinese products. The brand figured among trending topics in India with over 11,500 tweets.
Former special forces commando and award-winning sportsman Major Surendra Poonia accused Twitter of giving a "lame excuse" for its actions.
Twitter blocked #Amul ‘s account
Then restored by lame excuse that it was protecting safety of Amul?
Note?
Twitter is banned in China
Still Twitter supports leftist & block companies from sharing anything Anti-China...Why ?
How they manage this relation ?
Is?doin trick ? pic.twitter.com/8AIusED77k
— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) June 6, 2020
In the campaign -- titled "Exit the Dragon" -- Amul's iconic girl in white and red polka dots dress is seen fighting a dragon carrying a "Made in China" placard.
The creative, which also mentions TikTok, carries a tagline "Amul - Made In India", referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "vocal about local" call to boost self-reilance.
The Amul account was restored on Friday (5), after the company took up the issue.
On Saturday, a Twitter spokesperson said via email: "Safety and security of the accounts is a key priority for us and to ensure an account has not been compromised sometimes we require the account owner to complete a simple reCAPTCHA process.
"These challenges are simple for authentic account owners to solve, but difficult (or costly) for spammy or malicious account owners to complete."
Amul managing director RS Sodhi said the company's Twitter account was blocked on the night of June 4, and restored on June 5 morning when the issue was taken up with Twitter.
"As far as the cartoon is concerned, it is not Amul's comment. The Amul girl comments on mood of the nation and the topics which are in discussions among the common people," he said.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)