Did the Government Really Order X to Block Reuters' Account?
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Synopsis
In a recent turn of events, the Indian government denied allegations by Elon Musk's X that it ordered the blocking of Reuters and other accounts. The government promptly engaged with X to resolve the issue, leading to the unblocking of Reuters. What does this mean for the future of social media regulations in India?
Key Takeaways
- The Indian government has denied issuing any orders to block Reuters.
- Continuous engagement between the government and X resulted in the unblocking of accounts.
- Operation Sindoor led to various directives but was not enforced.
- Section 69A of the IT Act allows for blocking content for national security.
- The incident emphasizes the tension between media freedom and governmental regulations.
New Delhi, July 8 (NationPress) – The Central Government on Tuesday dismissed claims made by X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, that it ordered the blocking of 2,355 accounts in India, including Reuters, on July 3.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) clarified that no new orders or requests for account blocking had been made to X.
Following the earlier withholding of the Reuters account this month, the government actively sought to resolve the situation and successfully negotiated for the unblocking of Reuters and several other accounts on July 6.
A spokesperson from MeitY stated: "The Government has not issued any new blocking orders on July 3, 2025, and does not intend to block any major international news channels, including Reuters and Reuters World. The moment these accounts were blocked in India, the government reached out to X to have them reinstated."
While an order was issued on May 7 during Operation Sindoor, it was never enforced. In the wake of this operation, several directives were issued to remove posts and block accounts due to national security issues.
X seems to have mistakenly acted on that order, prompting the government to intervene and seek resolution.
The clarification follows statements from Musk-owned X claiming that the Indian government mandated the blocking of over 2,300 accounts, which included Reuters.
According to X’s Global Government Affairs division, on July 3, 2025, the Indian government requested that X block 2,355 accounts in India, including international news organizations like Reuters and Reuters World, citing Section 69A of the IT Act.
"Failure to comply could result in 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 platform asserted.
Following this, the government urged X to unblock Reuters and Reuters World.
Previously, the government had denied any involvement in the suspension of Reuters' account on X. "There is no directive from the Government of India to suspend the Reuters handle. We are in ongoing discussions with X to resolve the issue," stated a government official, suggesting that X may have erroneously acted on an outdated directive.
Point of View
Our commitment remains to uphold the integrity of the news landscape. The government's swift denial of the blocking orders demonstrates a willingness to engage with media platforms. This incident highlights the delicate balance between national security concerns and the freedom of information, which is essential in a democratic society.
NationPress
21/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the Indian government order X to block Reuters?
No, the Indian government has denied any allegations that it ordered X to block Reuters or any other accounts on July 3, 2025.
What action did the government take regarding the Reuters account?
The government engaged with X to unblock the Reuters account after it was previously withheld, successfully negotiating its reinstatement.
What was Operation Sindoor?
Operation Sindoor was an initiative that led to various orders for account blocking and post removal due to national security concerns, but it was not enforced as of May 7.
What is Section 69A of the IT Act?
Section 69A of the IT Act allows the government to block access to online content in the interest of national security, public order, or for preventing incitement to commit an offense.
How did X respond to the government's requests?
X claimed they were instructed by the government to block accounts and faced potential legal consequences for non-compliance, which the government later denied.
