'Bulli Bai' row: GitHub suspends user account, says will assist with probe | Exclusive

Responding to queries by India Today on the 'Bulli Bai' controversy, GitHub has stated that it has policies against content and conduct involving harassment, discrimination, and inciting violence.

Software development platform GitHub has suspended a user account amidst controversy surrounding the 'Bulli Bai' app. Responding to queries by India Today on the 'Bulli Bai' controversy, GitHub has stated that it has policies against content and conduct involving harassment, discrimination, and inciting violence."GitHub has longstanding policies against content and conduct involving harassment, discrimination, and inciting violence. We suspended a user account following the investigation of reports of such activity, all of which violate our policies," a spokesperson for GitHub said.GitHub has responded to law enforcement requests that comply with established legal procedures. "We informed India police of our policy in this case and will assist upon receiving valid legal process from them," GitHub stated.The software developer says the user account in question was suspended upon being flagged. GitHub also assures compliance and cooperation with law enforcement agencies.Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has sought information from Twitter about the account that first tweeted about the 'Bulli Bai' app and asked it to remove the offensive content. It has also sought information from GitHub about the 'Bulli Bai' app developer, Delhi Police sources told India Today.This latest controversy erupted barely six months after the 'Sulli Deals' controversy where photos of hundreds of Muslim women were uploaded on an app. Information available on the 'Bulli Bai' app revealed that cybercriminals would collect photos of Muslim women from their social media accounts and encourage people to participate in their "auction".The Cyber Crime Police Station of Hyderabad Police and the Mumbai cyber crime branch has also taken cognisance of the online harassment of Muslim women on the 'Bulli Bai' app.Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Sunday said the perpetrator's account had been blocked by GitHub and police and Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) were investigating the matter.

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