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Twitter suspends @GabbbarSingh's account, leaves followers fuming

Twitter still can't differentiate between sarcasm and abuse.

Manish Singh

on November 1, 2016

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

UPDATE: Nov. 1, 2016, 6:24 p.m. IST Twitter has restored @GabbbarSingh's account.

Twitter continues to struggle with curbing abuse on its social networking site without making questionable moves and offending many people.

The social networking website today banned the account of prolific Indian Twitter user who goes by the handle @GabbbarSingh. Known for his sarcastic and funny tweets, GabbbarSingh’s account is followed by over 430,000 people.

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It’s unclear what made Twitter suspend the account, but it’s likely that GabbbarSingh’s tweets may have been deemed offending by some people. People are pointing to his recent sarcastic tweet to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal that could have gotten him suspended. Interestingly enough, many are now blaming Kejriwal for all of this.

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Speaking to Mashable India, Gabbbar Singh, who requested anonymity over his real name, noted that Twitter is yet to offer him any explanation for why his account was suspended.

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"Twitter is a vibrant platform. I don’t understand why they keep banning accounts of people who create and consume so much content on Twitter everyday," GabbbarSingh told Mashable India.

He adds that his recent tweet about the Diwali celebration in a theatre may have resulted in Shah Rukh Khan fans mass-reporting him to Twitter. A screening of Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' movie at a Malegaon theatre was disrupted last week when many people started to burst fireworks inside the hall. People were apparently too pleased with the three-minute cameo of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in the movie.

"But many had tweeted similar things, and it was also picked up by mainstream media. I don’t understand why they would suspend me for that," he complained. He added that this isn’t the first time his account has been suspended. It's worth pointing out that GabbbarSingh's Twitter handle is a play on a popular fictional character Gabbar Singh from Bollywood blockbuster 'Sholay'.

This isn't the first time Twitter has banned an account on Twitter over what appears like objectionable tweets. Twitter was at the centrestage in July when actress Leslie Jones was attacked by several people on Twitter with abusive comments. The company at the time had sought to take better control over objectionable content, and had blocked many users. At its earnings call last month, CEO Jack Dorsey told investors and analysts that Twitter will soon announce an improved way to tackle questionable tweets and profiles.

Mashable India has reached out to Twitter for comment. In the meanwhile, people aren't pleased with the suspension of GabbbarSingh's account.