X blocking 8,000 accounts in India after Centre's orders
Social media platform X on Thursday said it has started blocking more than 8,000 accounts in India after receiving orders from the Union government.
This comes amid escalating tensions with Pakistan after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22.
In a statement, X's Global Government Affairs unit said that the platform had received orders from the Indian government requiring it to block the accounts, 'subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company's local employees'.
The orders included demands to block access in India to accounts belonging to international news organisations and prominent X users, the statement added.
'In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India's local laws,' it said. 'For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts.'
The billionaire Elon Musk-led social media platform said that it would withhold the specified accounts in India alone to comply with the orders.
'However, we disagree with the Indian government's demands,' the platform said. 'Blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary, it amounts to censorship of existing and future content, and is contrary to the fundamental right of free speech.'
It added: 'This is not an easy decision, however keeping the platform accessible in India is vital to Indians' ability to access information.'
The United States-based social media platform also said that making the government orders public was essential for transparency.
'Lack of disclosure discourages accountability and can contribute to arbitrary decision making,' it said. 'However, due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders at this time.'
The platform said that it was exploring legal avenues available to the company.
'Unlike users located in India, X is restricted by Indian law in its ability to bring legal challenges against these executive orders,' it said. 'However, we encourage all users who are impacted by these blocking orders to seek appropriate relief from the courts.'
X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company's local employees. The orders include demands to block access in India to…
— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) May 8, 2025
The statement came hours after India blocked the social media accounts of at least four news portals – Maktoob Media, The Kashmiriyat, Free Press Kashmir and the United States-based Muslim – amid tensions with Pakistan.
The accounts were blocked in response to legal demands by the Indian government, said X and another social media platform Instagram.
The accounts of Maktoob Media, Free Press Kashmir and The Kashmiriyat have been blocked on X, while that of Muslim has been blocked on Instagram.
The websites of all four news outlets were still accessible in India.
Maktoob Media, Free Press Kashmir and The Kashmiriyat are among Indian platforms that have in recent years sought to provide Muslim and Kashmiri perspectives on news in the context of the rising influence of Hindutva.
The news platform Muslim describes itself as 'an independent media platform delivering Muslim news, stories and coverage to our Ummah [global Muslim community]' and has around 6.7 million followers on Instagram, AFP reported.
Earlier, social media accounts of several Pakistani politicians, actors and cricketers were banned in India, including those of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto and singer Abida Parveen.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
12 minutes ago
- India Today
Indian Navy, UK Carrier Strike Group conduct high-tempo drill in North Arabian Sea
After a month-long high-alert deployment during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy has conducted a high-tempo Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the United Kingdom's Carrier Strike Group in the strategic North Arabian drill, held on June 9 and 10, featured Indian naval assets including the stealth frigate INS Tabar, a submarine, and the long-range maritime patrol aircraft P-8I. The UK's naval contingent included HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond. advertisementThe exercise highlighted advanced operational coordination and interoperability between the two forces. With synchronised tactical manoeuvres and unified helicopter control operations, both navies demonstrated their readiness and high-end combat capabilities. The professional exchange of officers further cemented the bond between the Indian and Royal Navies, reinforcing ties beyond routine joint drills. This engagement comes on the heels of the Indian Navy's prominent role in Operation Sindoor, where it was forward-deployed in the North Arabian Sea. The exercise served as a testament to the operational strength and combat preparedness of Indian naval units, both surface and underwater. Indian submarines and warships were instrumental in executing complex maritime tasks during the operation, earning them recognition as some of the most capable units joint PASSEX carries strategic significance due to its location. The North Arabian Sea remains a critical maritime corridor for global trade, including essential energy shipments. Conducting joint drills in this region reflects a shared commitment by India and the United Kingdom to maintaining maritime stability, safeguarding sea lines of communication, and projecting a credible naval presence in the exercise also reflects the growing maritime collaboration between the two nations, emphasising a rules-based international order and underscoring the Indo-Pacific's importance in global geopolitics. As regional maritime threats evolve, this coordinated show of strength reaffirms the collective deterrence posture of both InMust Watch
India Today
40 minutes ago
- India Today
Setback for India: Jairam Ramesh after US general praises Pakistan's terror fight
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the Indian government on Wednesday over recent remarks by a top United States military official praising Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts. Taking to X, Ramesh wrote, 'Recently, the head of the US Central Command called Pakistan a 'great partner in the counter-terrorism campaign'. What will our Prime Minister and his ovation say to this? Is this not a diplomatic setback for India?'advertisementHis statement followed US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla's testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, where the outgoing commander described Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in counter-terrorism comments came at a time when India had been actively campaigning to expose Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism, particularly after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April. During the hearing, General Kurilla urged Washington not to adopt a zero-sum approach in South Asia, stating that the US must maintain strategic relations with both India and Pakistan."We need to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India. I do not believe it is a binary switch that we can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India,' he said. 'We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has.'advertisementKurilla's remarks came even as India stepped up diplomatic efforts to hold Pakistan accountable for its alleged role in the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people on April 22. In response, India carried out precision air strikes on terror infrastructure across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May military escalation ended on May 10 after the Directors General of Military Operations from both countries reached an officials, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, had reiterated that India would not accept any equivalence between victims of terrorism and the perpetrators. New Delhi also expressed concern over multiple international responses that appeared to hyphenate India and Pakistan during the brief military Kurilla, who is expected to retire later this summer, also spoke about Pakistan's role in combatting the Islamic State's regional affiliate, ISIS-Khorasan, also known as IS-KP. He acknowledged efforts by the Pakistani military and army chief General Asim Munir in countering the terror Watch
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
ASBL to launch 50-storey residential project in Hyderabad's financial district
Hyderabad-based real estate developer ASBL is set to launch its latest residential project, Broadway, on June 14 in the Financial District. The project has received approval from the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), said a release. Spread across five acres, Broadway will feature three high-rise towers with G+50 floors, comprising a total of 885 three-bedroom apartments. The flats will range from 2,035 to 2,650 square feet, and the project is scheduled for completion and handover by December 2029. Ajitesh Korupolu, founder and CEO of ASBL, said: 'Since 2015, Mercer has ranked Hyderabad as India's most liveable city six times, highlighting its tranquillity, cosmopolitan appeal and safety. With Broadway, we aim to contribute to this standard by building a community that exemplifies comfort, connectivity, and modern urban living,'
