X says Indian government ordered Reuters account block; Government denies the claim

July 8,2025

RED FM News Desk

Toronto, ON- Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has claimed that the Indian government ordered the blocking of 2,355 accounts last week — including two belonging to Reuters News: @Reuters and @ReutersWorld.

These accounts were made inaccessible in India on Saturday night, displaying the message:
“Withheld in India in response to a legal demand.”

By Sunday night, both Reuters accounts were restored and became accessible again in the country. However, the status of the remaining accounts remains unclear.

X Accuses Government of Press Censorship

In a statement, X raised concerns over what it called increasing press censorship in India.
“We are concerned about the ongoing censorship of the press in India and are currently exploring legal options,” the platform stated.

X also noted that non-compliance with the government’s orders could have resulted in criminal liability for the company.

Indian Government Denies Issuing Any Blocking Order

India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) responded by stating that no new order was issued on July 3, and that there was no intention to block any international news outlet like Reuters.

According to the ministry, they had already asked X to restore access to the Reuters accounts. However, X claims it was instructed to bring the accounts back online only after public outcry.

What is Section 69A?

Under India’s Information Technology Act, Section 69A allows the government to block online content if it poses a threat to the country’s sovereignty, integrity, national security, or public order.
However, such orders are confidential and are not disclosed publicly.

History of Tensions Between X and the Indian Government

This isn’t the first conflict between X and the Indian government. In March 2025, X filed a legal challenge against a government-run website, referring to it as a “censorship portal.”
The government defended the platform, saying it was simply a tool for platforms to report harmful content, not a censorship mechanism.