Reuters, Global Times, TRT World X accounts blocked in India. Photo/X.
The official ‘X’ account of international news agency Reuters has been blocked in India on the intervening night of July 5 and 6.
Following this, on June 6, Indian government blocked the official ‘X’ handles of Chines state run media company Global Times and Turkey’s official broadcaster TRT World.
Users attempting to access thse handles in India were treated with a message stating that the account has been “withheld in IN in response to a legal demand.”
According to X’s help centre guidelines, such restrictions are mostly implemented by the social media company when the platform is compelled by a valid legal request.
Also Read: Reuters’ Main X Handle Blocked In India, Legal Grounds Unclear
Despite the message displayed on X, the Government of India has denied having issued any blocking orders against Reuters. In a formal statement, the government said, “There is no requirement from the Government of India to withhold Reuters handle. We are continuously working with X to resolve the problem.”
Reports quoting official sources ahve suggested that this can a “technical issue” on the side of social media company rather than an intentional legal action.
Reports added that Reuters and X are working in close coordination with India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to resolve the matter.
As of now, the Indian government has not issued any formal statement explaining the rationale behind the blocking of Global Times and TRT World handles.
The move to block these handles is seen as India taking on the international propagand peedled after the Operation Sindoor. During the four day war Chian and India helped Pakistan militarily and also amplified the propaganda coming out of Pakistan.
X’s Global Government Affairs team revealed that the platform had received more than 8,000 requests from Indian authorities to remove posts or block accounts during Operation Sindoor. X has also filed a plea in Karnatka high court pleading that the social media company is recieving sevral takedown orders from the government.
Also Read: X Blocks Reuters’ Account In India Citing Legal Demand, But India Says Not Required
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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