Elon Musk’s social media platform X announced Tuesday that the Indian government demanded the immediate blocking of 2,355 accounts within the country, including the main Reuters account and ReutersWorld.
Government’s Swift Demand for Censorship
“The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology demanded immediate action—within one hour—without providing justification, and required the accounts to remain blocked until further notice,” X’s global government affairs account posted.
The Reuters accounts were blocked for Indian users on Saturday, displaying the message: “Account withheld @Reuters has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand.”
Indian Authorities Deny Ordering Block
India’s Press Information Bureau told Reuters no government agency had ordered the blocking of the Reuters accounts and stated it was working with X to resolve the issue. The accounts were restored on Sunday.
This incident is part of a broader censorship dispute between X and the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In March, X sued India’s IT ministry, alleging unlawful expansion of censorship powers that facilitate easier content removal.
Elon Musk, who often champions himself as a free speech absolutist, acquired Twitter and renamed it X, making significant changes to content moderation policies. He has stated that his takeover was motivated in part by opposition to what he considered unfair restrictions on conservative viewpoints.
Author’s Opinion
The conflict between X and the Indian government highlights the difficult balance between protecting free speech and respecting sovereign nations’ legal frameworks. While social media platforms must guard against censorship, they also operate within jurisdictions where governments enforce content rules. Musk’s push for absolute free speech clashes with realities on the ground, and finding a workable middle ground is essential for both user trust and regulatory compliance.
Featured image credit: Wikimedia Commons
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