Twitter bans Russia-based Kaspersky Lab from buying ads
April 21: Twitter has banned Russia-based cyber security firm Kaspersky Lab from advertising on its platform, stating that the company "operates using a business model that inherently conflicts with acceptable Twitter Ads business practices."
In an open letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Kaspersky Lab's Founder Eugene Kaspersky has termed the move as "potential political censorship".
"At the end of January, Twitter unexpectedly informed us about an advertising ban on our official accounts where we announce new posts on our various blogs on cybersecurity (including, for example, Securelist and Kaspersky Daily) and inform users about new cyberthreats and what to do about them," Eugene wrote on Friday.
"In a short letter from an unnamed Twitter employee, we were told that our company 'operates using a business model that inherently conflicts with acceptable Twitter Ads business practices,'" he added.
Kaspersky Lab spent around $93,000 to promote its content on Twitter in 2017 and its India advertising share on Twitter was around $13,580.
"No matter how this situation develops, we won't be doing any more advertising on Twitter this year.
"The whole of the planned Twitter advertising budget for 2018 will instead be donated to the @EFF. They do a lot to fight censorship online," Eugene tweeted on Saturday.
According to a report in Cyberscoop, a Twitter spokesperson pointed towards the September 2017 decree from US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that ordered federal agencies to remove Kaspersky products from their networks.
"Kaspersky Lab may remain an organic user on our platform, in accordance with the Twitter Rules," a Twitter spokesperson told The Register.
"Twitter is playing into the hands of cybercriminals when it hinders the delivery of important information on protection from cyber threats," Eugene said.
"The majority of our promoted content on Twitter has been about cybersafety and research and reports about the information security industry. We believe that this content brings value to a variety of Twitter users."
"Twitter, if this is a matter of a decision being made in error, please openly admit this; people'd forgive you - everyone makes mistakes! I think that would be the only civilized way to quash any doubts about potential political censorship on Twitter," Eugene said.
The Kaspersky Lab founder said that more than two months have passed and the only reply he received from Twitter was the copy of the same boilerplate text.
"Accordingly, I'm forced to rely on another (less subtle but nevertheless oft and loudly declared) principle of Twitter's - speaking truth to power - to share details of the matter with interested users and to publicly ask that you, dear Twitter executives, kindly be specific as to the reasoning behind this ban," he said.
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Opposition questions 'US-brokered' ceasefire, seek special Parliament session
New Delhi, May 10 (PTI): Opposition parties on Saturday questioned the "US-brokered" ceasefire between India and Pakistan and demanded that the government brief political parties about it and call a special session of Parliament to discuss the events of the past 18 days, even as the BJP credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing the "enemy on its knees".
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the prime minister should chair an all-party meeting to take political parties into confidence in view of the "unprecedented announcements from Washington DC".
"A US-brokered ceasefire once again! Like it or not, it reaffirms the US position once again as being the single biggest outside balancer of power in multiple regions of the World," Congress leader Manish Tewari said in a post on X.
The BJP hailed the prime minister's leadership and the bravery of the armed forces following the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
BJP IT department head Amit Malviya underscored that the ceasefire was announced after the Pakistan Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) reached out to his Indian counterpart, requesting a ceasefire.
"India accepted the offer but only after announcing a revised war doctrine: henceforth, any future terrorist attack on Indian soil will be treated as an act of war," Malviya said.
Ramesh said there was a need, more than ever before, for -- the prime minister to chair an all-party meeting and take political parties into confidence.
There is also now a need, more than ever before, for a special session of Parliament to discuss the events of the last 18 days, beginning with the brutal Pahalgam terror attack and the way forward, and to demonstrate a collective resolve, he said.
Congress leaders, meanwhile, shared on X photographs of former prime minister Indira Gandhi with armed forces personnel during various points in time and said, "India misses Indira."
The Congress quoted Indira Gandhi's letter to then-US president Richard Nixon, telling him that the time had passed when any nation sitting thousands of miles away could give orders to Indians on the basis of colour superiority to do as they wished.
"That was courage, that was standing up for India, that was not compromising with the nation's pride," it said in a post on X.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also demanded that Modi convene a special session of Parliament and share in greater detail the incidents that unfolded -- from the terror strike in Pahalgam to the ceasefire announcement -- so that "all Indians, in one voice, can express gratitude to the courage and the valour displayed by the armed forces".
"US President Donald Trump announcing a ceasefire unsettles me. That's why I feel the prime minister should call a special session of Parliament over this," said RJD MP Manoj Jha.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah welcomed the ceasefire, saying it was better late than never.
Abdullah said the Pakistan DGMO called his Indian counterpart and they agreed to establish a ceasefire again in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav praised Modi for his resolute response to the Pahalgam attack and for bringing enemies "to their knees".
Left parties the CPI and the CPI(M) welcomed the ceasefire but said the US's role in the process "raised certain questions".
"We believe India and Pakistan have the maturity to address their issues bilaterally, without interference by Donald Trump and the US," CPI general secretary D Raja said.
"It is disquieting that there is an impression that the US mediated the ceasefire. Hope we don't entertain any internationalisation of the Kashmir issue," CPI(M) leader John Brittas said.
NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar said every step taken in the direction of peace strengthened the collective fight against terrorism.
"Proud of India's armed forces, our air defence was spectacular. Big salute. To our people in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Haryana a hat tip to your courage! The guns may have turned silent but Indians have spoken loudly and clearly – to Pakistan and the world -- United India, stronger India," Shiv Sena-UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on X that he wished Modi had announced the ceasefire rather than the president of a foreign country.
"We have always been opposed to third party intervention since Simla (1972). Why have we now accepted it? I hope the Kashmir issue will not be internationalised, as it is our internal matter," he said.
The JD(U), a part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), welcomed the ceasefire announcement.
JD(U) spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said India had taught Pakistan a lesson that it would never be able to forget.
TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also welcomed the ceasefire.
"A ceasefire has been considered at the request of Pakistan," said Naidu, whose party is a key constituent of the ruling NDA.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect after four days of cross-border strikes that triggered fears of a wider conflict.
The brief announcement came shortly after Trump said India and Pakistan had agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire after talks mediated by the US.
Independent Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said, "I am glad that there is now a ceasefire and we should move forward and Pakistan should ensure that such incidents do not happen again."
In view of the unprecedented announcements from Washington DC, there is now a need, more than ever before, for -
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 10, 2025
1. The PM to chair an all-party meeting and take political parties into confidence
2. A special session of Parliament to discuss the events of the last eighteen…
