New Delhi: Social media platform X (formerly Twitter), owned by Elon Musk, has raised concerns about press censorship in India, following a temporary ban on the accounts of international news agency Reuters. The platform said the block was ordered by the Indian government under Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, without providing any justification.
On July 3, 2025, the Indian government ordered X to block 2,355 accounts in India, including international news outlets like @Reuters and @ReutersWorld, under Section 69A of the IT Act. Non-compliance risked criminal liability. The Ministry of Electronics and Information…
— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) July 8, 2025
In a statement posted by X’s Global Government Affairs handle on Tuesday, the company claimed that on July 3, it was directed by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to block 2,355 accounts, including that of Reuters and Reuters World, “within one hour.” Non-compliance, it added, would have exposed the company to criminal liability.
“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,” the post said.
The platform also noted that the Indian government later requested the unblocking of the Reuters accounts following “public outcry” over the censorship of the international news organization.
“We are deeply concerned about ongoing press censorship in India due to these blocking orders. X is exploring all legal options available,” the statement added.
X emphasized that Indian users should consider taking legal recourse on their own.
“Unlike users located in India, X is restricted by Indian law in its ability to bring legal challenges against these executive orders. We urge affected users to pursue legal remedies through the courts,” it said.
Indian Government Responds
A day after the Reuters accounts were withheld, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) stated that there was “no requirement” from the government to block Reuters’ handle and claimed the ministry was “continuously working with X to resolve the problem.”
Some government officials familiar with the matter suggested the move may have stemmed from a “technical issue.” Neither MeitY nor any official government body has issued a formal explanation for the temporary ban.
Other News Outlets Affected
In addition to Reuters, other international news platforms such as Turkey’s TRT World and China’s Global Times News were also not visible in India since Saturday evening. However, all affected accounts were reportedly restored within 24 hours.
Section 69A of the IT Act – A Controversial Provision
Section 69A of India’s IT Act allows the government to direct intermediaries like social media platforms to block content or accounts in the interest of sovereignty, public order, or national security. However, the law has often come under scrutiny for lack of transparency and judicial oversight.