NEW DELHI – The Indian government last week directed social media platform X to block more than 2,000 accounts, including two belonging to Reuters News, the company revealed Tuesday in a rare public rebuke of India’s “ongoing press censorship.”
The accounts @Reuters and @ReutersWorld were temporarily withheld in India on Saturday, displaying a notice that they had been restricted “in response to a legal demand.” While Reuters’ accounts were restored by Sunday night, the status of others remains unclear.
X’s disclosure directly contradicts India’s Press Information Bureau, which denied government involvement in the suspensions. The platform stated that on July 3, authorities ordered the blocking of 2,355 accounts under India’s IT Act, warning of criminal penalties for non-compliance.
“We are deeply concerned about press censorship in India due to these blocking orders,” X said, adding it was pursuing legal challenges. The move highlights growing tensions between tech firms and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government over free speech and regulatory control.
India’s IT ministry has not yet responded to Reuters’ request for comment. The incident follows increasing scrutiny of India’s internet censorship, which has surged under Modi’s administration.