Summary:
Facebook grants a blue tick to verified accounts of public personalities, brands and celebrities (including politicians and artists). In India, former Member of Parliament and legislator Ajay Singh Chautala who is serving a 10-year jail term for the teachers' recruitment scam, still continues to hold the person of eminence status with the 'blue tick' on his Facebook account.
Allegations:
- While Chautala's page may be popular with over 3.45 lakh followers, cyber and legal experts said that not all public figures or celebrities get verified by the blue tick. Application for the blue tick verification is subjected to various levels of scrutiny by social media platforms which recognise the individual's contribution to society in their respective professions.
- New Delhi-based corporate lawyer Hemant K Batra said that the Haryana government should approach Facebook for the immediate closure of Chautala's verified page as it was glamourising a convict.
Defence:
- Facebook has no policy in place for cases where an individual who has a verified blue tick account is convicted in a serious criminal case.