On July 8, 2025, social media platform X raised alarms over media censorship in India after the government reportedly ordered the blocking of 2,355 accounts, including those of Reuters and Reuters World, under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. The directive, issued on July 3, 2025, demanded immediate action within one hour, citing national security and sovereignty concerns, with non-compliance risking criminal liability for X’s local staff. X complied, blocking the accounts on July 5, but expressed unease, stating it is exploring legal options despite being constrained by Indian law.
The Indian government denied issuing a fresh blocking order on July 3, asserting it had no intention of targeting prominent news outlets. It claimed to have urged X to unblock Reuters and other accounts from July 5, with the accounts restored after 21 hours on July 6 following persistent follow-ups. The government accused X of delaying the process by exploiting technicalities. This incident follows a pattern, as similar orders in May 2025 targeted accounts of journalists and news portals like The Wire and Maktoob News, sparking debates about digital freedom.
Critics argue that Section 69A’s lack of transparency enables misuse, stifling dissent and independent journalism. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions between India’s government and X, with the platform previously challenging the IT Ministry in March 2025 over alleged overreach in content moderation.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 9th, 2025
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