India Blocks Over 2,300 X Accounts

The social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has voiced serious concern after receiving a directive from the Indian government to block 2,355 accounts within the country.

Among the targeted accounts were two belonging to international news agency Reuters, raising renewed fears over press freedom and digital censorship in India.

In a statement published on its platform, X revealed that on July 3, 2025, it was instructed by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to immediately restrict access to the accounts.

The ministry allegedly demanded that the blocks be implemented within one hour and maintained indefinitely, without offering any justification.

The order reportedly included accounts linked to international media outlets. Although many of the blocked accounts were reinstated within hours following public backlash, X said the government had initially insisted the accounts remain suspended.

India’s Ministry of Electronics has denied issuing such an order, with an official spokesperson stating there was no intention to block a major global news organization. Still, X maintained that noncompliance with the directive could have exposed the platform to criminal liability under Indian law.

The platform, owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, condemned what it described as censorship against journalism in India. Following growing criticism, the Indian government reportedly asked X to lift the restrictions on the @Reuters and @ReutersWorld accounts.

Rights groups have consistently warned about the shrinking space for free expression in India, particularly since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014. The country has frequently ordered large-scale internet shutdowns during civil unrest and has taken strict action against social media platforms accused of spreading misinformation.

In April, Indian authorities banned over 10 Pakistan-linked YouTube channels for allegedly promoting provocative content after a militant attack in Kashmir. Several of those channels have since returned under new aliases.

While X has stated that it is reviewing all available legal options, it also acknowledged that its actions remain constrained by Indian law. The episode adds to growing international scrutiny of India’s digital policy and its impact on free speech and journalistic independence.