India: Tensions between X and New Delhi after the temporary blocking of thousands of accounts
The social network said it was "deeply concerned" after receiving an order last week from the Indian government to block more than 2,000 accounts, including two belonging to the Reuters news agency, a move New Delhi denies.
Social media company X said Tuesday it was "deeply concerned" after receiving an order last week from the Indian government to block more than 2,000 accounts, including two belonging to the Reuters news agency , a move New Delhi denies. Many of the closed accounts were reinstated hours later, while Indian authorities denied any role in their blocking.
"On July 3, 2025, the Indian government ordered X to block 2,355 accounts in India, including international media outlets such as @Reuters and @ReutersWorld," the social network said in a statement shared on its platform. India's Ministry of Electronics "demanded immediate action - within one hour - without providing any justification and asked that the accounts remain closed" until further notice, X claimed.
Skip the adA ministry spokesperson denied issuing such an order, also saying there was "no intention to block a leading international media outlet." "The moment Reuters and Reuters World were blocked on X platform in India, the government immediately wrote to X to unblock them," the spokesperson told ANI news agency.
The accounts, which were taken offline late Saturday, were back online by Sunday. For its part, X (formerly Twitter) claims that failure to comply with the Indian government's instructions "risked criminal liability" for the social network. "Following a public outcry, the government has asked X to unblock the accounts of @Reuters and @ReutersWorld," the platform, which denounces press "censorship" in India, said.
According to rights groups, freedom of expression and press freedom have been under threat in India since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014. New Delhi regularly imposes widespread internet shutdowns during periods of unrest. In April, India launched a sweeping crackdown on social media, banning more than 10 Pakistani YouTube channels accused of broadcasting "provocative" content after a Kashmir attack. Many have since been reinstated.
New Delhi explains its bans on the internet and social media as a desire to combat disinformation. X says it is "examining all possible legal options" but adds that it is "limited by Indian law."
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