Delhi Police Seeks Info From GitHub, Twitter About Controversial App Auctioning Women

Taking action against the controversial Bulli Bai mobile application, the Delhi Police has sought details from the GitHub platform about the developer of the application. The police have also asked the microblogging site Twitter to provide information about the account handler who first posted about the application online.

As per reports, Twitter has been asked by the authorities to remove and "offensive content" shared via Bulli Bai. The application put up pictures of hundreds of Muslim women including some famous names for "auction". Widespread outrage has been seen on social media against the app and people have been demanding strict action against the app developer. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Information Technology Minister of India gave his statement on Sunday and said that the government is working with police forces in Mumbai and Delhi on the matter.

Bulli Bai Auction Muslim Women:

The Minister added that the GitHub platform had blocked the user who uploaded the pictures of women in the said app and Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Indian cyber security agency is coordinating with the police for further action. Apart from many women on social media sites, the National Commission for Women has also written to the Delhi police to speed up the probe relation to the mobile app and ensure that such crimes are not repeated.

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According to a report by PTI, a senior police Delhi Police officer on Monday said that the information about the user handle which first posted on Twitter about the app is sought from the social platform to know how the person came across the offensive contents on Muslim women included in the app. To know the purpose and intention of the developer behind the app, the police has also sought information from GitHub. The Delhi police had reportedly filed an FIR against an unknown person for allegedly uploading morphed image of a woman journalist on a website on Saturday.

The case has been filed under sections 509 ( word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 354 A( sexual harassment and punishment for harassment) of the Indian Penal Code. So far, the police have made any arrests in the case and the investigation is underway. In July 2020, a similar case was registered by the Cyber Cell of the Delhi police after several Muslim women filed complaints against a mobile application named 'Sullu Deals' for uploading their pictures for "auction". The police are reportedly still investigating that case.