Press Information Bureau Twitter Handle “Likes” Pornographic Posts Again

A Twitter handle run by the Press Information Bureau is making eyes roll once again. The government agency’s official Hindi account was caught “liking” inappropriate pornographic posts for the second time since March.

Social media was quick to pounce. A journalist asked whether tax-payer money was being used to pay Press Information Bureau employees to watch porn during office hours.

If @PIBFactCheck wasn’t an embarrassment enough for the government, @PIBHindi’s affinity for sleaze is even worse. Who runs these handles? Is taxpayer money now being used to pay people to watch porn during office hours? pic.twitter.com/ACh2mRGcgy

— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) June 23, 2020

Another journalist said it was now confirmed that the handle was committed to baffling its followers.

Meanwhile PIB Twitter handlers continue to baffle their followers. The team chooses to 'like' some untasteful posts.@PMOIndia @arvindcTOI pic.twitter.com/IQypXi4CVJ

— Aditya Tiwari (Dainik Bhaskar Group) (@aditytiwarilive) June 23, 2020

Back in March, both the English and Hindi versions of the Press Information Bureau handle were called out for similar violations.

Several social media users had reported that the accounts were liking inappropriate posts — from Japanese cosplay to pornography to food pictures.

Another partially hacked account. @PIBHindi liked porn content 😅 pic.twitter.com/3RSWdse1r1

— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 22, 2020

Lots of Japanese tweets on the @PIBHindi handle also, along with pornographic stuff, none of which is removed yet!

— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) March 22, 2020

The Press Information Bureau’s official handle had, at the time, blamed the likes on an “unknown malfunction”. It had said that it was working on resolving the situation.

Due to unknown malfunction, @PIB_India handle has been generating a series of random likes of tweets in multiple languages since this morning. @TwitterIndia has been apprised on the issue & is working to resolve it. We thank all those who have connected with us on the issue.

— PIB India (@PIB_India) March 22, 2020

But the situation doesn’t seem to have been resolved yet, with several users discovering on Tuesday that a couple of sleazy tweets were still in the account’s “likes” tab.

aaj mausam bada beimaan hai ☺️ pic.twitter.com/vPDXuI4ePQ

— Shreemi Verma (@shreemiverma) June 23, 2020

Errr @PIBHindi liking some interesting tweets

— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) June 23, 2020

Activist and Congress member Shehzad Poonawallah used this opportunity to remind his followers that legislators have also been accused of watching porn at work — some of whom have even been promoted later.

Why are u surprised @rohini_sgh ? Watching sleaze is a trait remember the ruling party MLAs who were watching porn in assemblies. The MLA caught for watching porn was rewarded!! This chap at @PIBHindi is in for an upward swing ..no pun intended!! https://t.co/sZYtb3rAeL

— Tehseen Poonawalla Official (@tehseenp) June 23, 2020

He was referring to a 2012 incident, in which two BJP ministers had to quit their posts after they were caught scrolling through obscene posts in the Assembly. One of those ministers is now Karnataka Deputy CM Laxman Savadi.

A Congress minister has also been accused of watching porn on his smartphone at a public event in Karnataka in 2016.

Back in March this year, meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs Facebook page had made itself the butt of jokes, after accidentally posting a picture of a Royal Stag bottle on its official page. The page was posting Cyclone Amphan updates at the time.

Who's handling Ministry of Home Affairs Facebook page? Post deleted. pic.twitter.com/3jlr9OjZRt

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 28, 2020

In the last few months, the Press Information Bureau’s handle has come under fire on several occasions, although mostly by online fact-checkers. After its recent activity, we’re sure it’s bound to get a lot more attention.