Government Ordered Blocking of Reuters Handle, Claims X

Rapid Summary

• On July 3, 2025, the Indian government ordered X (formerly Twitter) to block 2,355 accounts under Section 69A of the IT Act. This included international media handles like @Reuters and @ReutersWorld. Non-compliance could have led to criminal liability.
• The blocking orders demanded immediate action “within one hour,” but X acted on the request on July 5, sparking concerns about press censorship in India.
• After public backlash, the government requested X to unblock Reuters’ handles (@Reuters and @ReutersWorld) on Sunday (July 6). Both accounts were subsequently restored later that day.
• The Ministry of Electronics and Data Technology denied it had required Reuters’ handles to be withheld and stated it was “continuously working with X to resolve the problem.”

Indian Opinion Analysis
This issue underscores tensions between social media platforms’ content moderation policies and India’s legal framework governing digital platforms through Section 69A of the IT Act. While governments often invoke national security or public order concerns when enacting blocking directives, censoring major global news organizations like Reuters raises wider questions about transparency in executive actions toward free press principles in a democracy.

The subsequent unblocking after public criticism may suggest sensitivity within official circles regarding perceptions around India’s commitment to freedom of speech globally. However, such incidents necessitate clear judicial scrutiny for striking balance between national interests and free speech-for domestic voices as much as international ones-due to their ramifications for India’s democratic reputation among international stakeholders.

Read more: the Hindu