urn:bbc:cps:curie:asset:6cfe2a72-2bfb-4931-9a87-3a0f9c7b1308

news.world.asia.india.story.56037901.page

ngas

Home

News

Israel-Gaza War

War in Ukraine

India Election

World

Africa

Asia

Australia

Europe

Latin America

Middle East

US & Canada

England

N. Ireland

Scotland

Wales

UK Nations and Regions

In Pictures

BBC Verify

Sport

Business

Future of Business

Technology of Business

Work Culture

Market Data

Innovation

Technology

Science & Health

Artificial Intelligence

Culture

Film & TV

Music

Art & Design

Style

Books

Entertainment News

Travel

Destinations

World’s Table

Culture & Experiences

Adventures

The SpeciaList

Earth

Natural Wonders

Weather & Science

Climate Solutions

Sustainable Business

Green Living

Video

Live

Live News

Live Sport

Audio

Weather

China

India

Antarctica

Australia and Pacific

Caribbean & Bermuda

Central America

North America

South America

Koo v Twitter: Why India's government is favouring a social media newcomer

A little yellow chick is gaining prominence in India as a result of tensions between Twitter and the Indian government.

Koo, a new microblogging app, is being used by government departments in preference to its far larger US-based rival.

India's government had demanded that Twitter take down certain accounts it claimed were spreading fake news. 

It accused Twitter of "double standards", by acting against those accused of spreading false or misleading information during the siege of the US Capitol building, but not against those acting in a similar fashion during protests at Delhi's Red Fort on 26 January. 

Twitter initially complied but then reversed its decision, reinstating suspended accounts.

The lists of accounts the government wanted blocked included those of  journalists, news organisations and opposition politicians. 

Meanwhile, supporters of the Indian government, including ruling party politicians, have been voting with their fingers and using Koo's new platform to express their opinions. They've also shared hashtags calling for Twitter to be banned in India.

Koo's particular attraction for Indian microbloggers is that it currently operates in five national languages, as well as English, with plans to introduce 12 more.

Launched in March last year, it has received an award from the Indian government, which is trying to push for greater self-reliance.

Koo functions in a very similar way to Twitter and claims to have attracted three million downloads since its launch, a third of which it describes as active users. 

Earlier this month, Koo's parent company, Bombinate Technologies based in Bangalore, raised $4.1m (£3m) in funding for the project.

One of its principal backers is Mohandas Pai, well-known in India as the co-founder of the IT giant Infosys and a vocal supporter of India's BJP-led government.

With its "made in India" push, many users on Twitter had pointed out that it also had Chinese support. 

But Koo chief executive Aprameya Radhakrishna says that although there had been some Chinese-based investment early on, this was no longer the case.

With several ministers and BJP supporters throwing their weight behind the India-made app, many have drawn parallels to the US-based social media app, Parler. 

Parler positioned itself as a "free speech" platform, and quickly became popular with supporters of former US President Donald Trump, as well as conspiracy theory groups such as QAnon, many of whom had become disillusioned with Twitter.  

Twitter's loss has been Koo's gain, as several Indian ministers and government departments, as well as some celebrities, have created accounts. 

Many of their supporters and followers have also followed them on to the new app.

Recently, India's electronics and information technology minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said he had now more than 500,000 followers on the app. His ministry's account has gained more than 160,000 over the past few days. 

"We are humbled and at the same time excited by the adoption and encouragement by so many noteworthy personalities, and recently the entry of the topmost government offices of the country on to Koo," Mr Radhakrishna said in a statement. 

Last month a local television station, Republic TV, announced an editorial partnership with Koo. 

It claims to be India's most-watched channel, but has come under scrutiny for its partisanship towards the BJP.  

Many of the most popular posts on Koo get featured on the channel, and trending hashtags are promoted on TV programmes.

Some have suggested similarities with the Chinese social messaging app Weibo, because of its close association with government and its supporters.

Digital activist Nikhil Pahwa says India's self-reliance push goes against the trend towards global platforms: "I am worried that there might be a future in India where there are no global platforms operating."

Mr Pahwa is also concerned that its lack of effective content moderation opens the door for extreme views, because on any social media platform "there is a vast amount of hate speech even under real names and authenticated IDs".

Koo and Parler are not the only apps that have emerged as competitors of Twitter. Other platforms such as Mastodon and Tooter have also come up, but have failed to take off or build a loyal user base. 

Mastodon gained popularity in India in 2019, when a prominent Indian lawyer's account was suspended by Twitter. 

Many Indian liberals migrated to it at the time, accusing Twitter of arbitrarily blocking the account without giving an explanation.

But most of those who had left eventually returned to Twitter. 

"No-one has been able to reach Twitter's scale," says Mr Pahwa, "because it gives us access to news and information from a global base of users." 

Will Cathcart reveals how many people are secretly using his app in countries where it is banned.

Tens of millions secretly use WhatsApp despite bans

The EU says Facebook and Instagram have not done enough to combat "malicious actors'" political ads.

Meta faces EU probe over Russian disinformation

The bird is captured launching off a wall and landing on a jar of food in Kenilworth.

Slow motion robin flies high on Facebook

Social media

Look at who each of the 20 teams involved in the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup have named in their squads. 

Men's T20 World Cup squads

Officials say no bombs were found when the schools were searched and an investigation is on.

Bomb hoax shuts nearly 100 schools in Delhi

The government talks up its ties with Delhi despite reports about a 2020 counter-intelligence operation.

Australia sidesteps reports it expelled Indian spies

India has one of the world's fastest growing economies but the benefits are yet to fully reach the poorest.

India's economy: The good, bad and ugly in six charts

Rishabh Pant is set to return to international cricket for the first time since a serious car crash after being picked in India's T20 World Cup squad.