NEW DELHI: In a sweeping move that has alarmed press freedom advocates, social media platform X has begun blocking access to more than 8,000 accounts in India following executive orders from the Indian government.
The platform, formerly known as Twitter, announced on Thursday (May 8) that despite disagreeing with these orders, it has begun complying with them due to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of its local employees.
Government Orders and X's Response
According to X's Global Government Affairs department, the Indian government has demanded the blocking of thousands of accounts, including those belonging to international news organizations and prominent users. In a detailed statement, X revealed troubling aspects of these government orders.
"In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India's local laws," it said.
"For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts," it added.
While complying with the orders by withholding the specified accounts in India alone, X made its objections clear: "Blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary, it amounts to censorship of existing and future content, and is contrary to the fundamental right of free speech."
The platform acknowledged the difficult position it faces, stating: "This is not an easy decision, however keeping the platform accessible in India is vital to Indians' ability to access information."
X also expressed frustration at its inability to make the government's orders public "due to legal restrictions" despite believing that "making these executive orders public is essential for transparency." The company is "exploring all possible legal avenues" but noted that unlike users located in India, X itself is restricted by Indian law in its ability to challenge such directives.
Media Outlets and Journalists Affected
Several news organizations and journalists have confirmed that their X accounts have been withheld in India, including:
Anuradha Bhasin - Managing Editor, Kashmir Times
· Maktoob Media - A digital news platform focused on human rights and minority issues in India
· Free Press Kashmir
· The Kashmiriyat
· Muzzamil Jaleel - Deputy editor and senior journalist at the Indian Express
· Force - An India-based magazine covering defense and aerospace, reported that a recent video by editor Pravin Sawhney has been withheld
Attempts to access these accounts from within India show a message stating they have been "withheld in India in response to a legal demand," without providing specific reasons for the ban.
Maktoob Media's Response
Aslah Kayyalakkath, Founding Editor of Maktoob Media, called the ban "an assault on press freedom" and stated that they have "no knowledge of the reason for the government's arbitrary action." He pledged that "Maktoob will continue its crucial work at a time when truth is becoming a casualty."
According to the wire.in, Kayyalakkath suggested that the ban might be related to their coverage of sensitive issues. Maktoob had reported on over 64 hate speeches. They covered hate attacks and lynchings, including a case in Mangalore where a Muslim man was falsely accused of chanting pro-Pakistan slogans. They were the first to publish the list of casualties from Pakistani shelling in Poonch. They wrote profiles of Lieutenant Vinay Narwal and pony rider Adil Shah
Kayyalakkath stated that they intend to challenge the ban.
Other Affected Accounts
Anuradha Bhasin, presently in the United States of America, said she was never informed by X that they had blocked her account in India.
The Kashmiriyat expressed their dismay on Instagram, writing: "It's hard to put into words. This feels like an erasure — of years of work, of the countless hours we poured into honest, often difficult journalism."
Digital creator Arpit Sharma, whose account was also withheld, stated on Instagram: "The result for making videos so hate doesn't spread, result for making videos on people co-existing in harmony, result for giving regular updates against viral fake news is this. This is the result."
Sharma believes there is "a pattern of selective targeting" at play. "I made videos against misinformation, asked questions on security lapses, spoke against communal politics post-Pahalgam. My message was no different from foreign secretary Misri's, who was exposing the designs of the terrorists," he said.
"MO of Everything," a media platform that is part of the India Today group, also reportedly had its Instagram account disabled.
Broader Context
This mass blocking of accounts comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, a precision strike conducted by India at several locations in Pakistan, and retaliatory cross-border attacks.
According to the Indian government, at least 16 civilians, including three women and five children, have been killed in cross-border shelling in Jammu and Kashmir after Pakistan continued firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.
Government Advisory on Pakistani Content
On the same day as the X account bans, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory regarding "carrying content having its origins in Pakistan." The advisory directed all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms, and intermediaries operating in India to:
"Discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect."
The advisory also urged caution regarding content which "affects the sovereignty and integrity of India," and which "threatens, endangers or jeopardizes the security of the state."
This advisory follows earlier actions by the government, including:
Blocking 16 Pakistani YouTube channels
Writing a formal letter to the BBC over their use of 'militants' for terrorists
Blocking access to several popular Pakistani drama channels on YouTube, including ARY Digital, Har Pal Geo, and Hum TV
Making Instagram accounts of Pakistani celebrities inaccessible in India, including Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Ali Zafar, Sanam Saeed, and Iqra Aziz
X's Guidance to Affected Users
X has advised "all users who are impacted by these blocking orders to seek appropriate relief from the courts" and provided contact information for legal aid organizations in India, including iProbono India, the National Legal Services Authority, Karnataka Legal Services Authority, and Supreme Court Legal Services.
The platform has also notified affected users in accordance with its policies and suggested they contact the Indian government at cyberlaw@meity.gov.in.
Press Freedom Concerns
This mass blocking of accounts raises serious concerns about press freedom and the right to expression in India, particularly during times of conflict when independent reporting is crucial. The breadth of the government's action, affecting thousands of accounts without specific justification, and the lack of transparency around the legal demands have drawn criticism from free speech advocates.
(The news article has been updated with inclusion of Anuradha Bhasin's X (Twitter) account put on hold in India)
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