A decidedly non-sexually-explicit cartoon about Indian politics has allegedly led to the blocking of an Indian cartoonist on Facebook. Political cartoonist Satish Acharya shared on Facebook and Twitter on March 9 that “Facebook has blocked renowned cartoonist P Muhamad for posting this ‘sexually explicit’ cartoon!”
Acharya, who has dealt with his fair share of censorship for his hard-hitting political takes, added in his post that, “It could be because of mass reporting. But this way any ‘organised reporting’ can block anything on Facebook.”
Facebook has blocked renowned cartoonist P.Muhamad for posting this 'sexually explicit' cartoon!! It could be because of mass reporting. But this way any 'organised reporting' can block anything on Facebook! pic.twitter.com/Qa27gRwzES
— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) March 9, 2019
The cartoon in question shows a missile marked “Demonetisation, GST etc”, lying buried in the debris of “Agriculture”, “Economy”, “Jobs” and “Growth” and the text reads: “Not a satellite image”. The picture is understandably a take on both, the many policy failures of the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that have wreaked havoc on the Indian economy, and the recent hullaballoo over the Balakot airstrike where the media reported unverified claims of the strike’s efficacy.
Many on Twitter criticised this form of censorship, while also questioning Facebook reporting policy.
New censorship? https://t.co/7GVSJfISLG
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) March 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/jbsnssa/status/1104273381598224384
I didn't find anything sexual in it. Even the phallus was not properly rendered leave away the ground's anatomical details. https://t.co/m6VQS03PYt
— बिहारी बाबू Bihari Babu بہاری بابو (@RoyTweetsHere) March 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/mangesh_wanjari/status/1104274698752409600
This ‘organized reporting’ is what’s suspending so many twitter accounts too… If only BJP put so much thought into nation building instead of just party building. https://t.co/EyIarcMHxj
— Sangita (@Sanginamby) March 9, 2019
Also read: Satish Acharya Alleges Newspaper Refuses To Carry His Work Till 2019 Lok Sabha Polls