Latest news with #AnuradhaBhasin
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
X handles of Turkish, Chinese media organisations blocked in India
The X (formerly Twitter) accounts of Turkish broadcaster TRT World, Chinese official news agency Xinhua, and the state-run tabloid newspaper Global Times News have been blocked in India amid a crackdown on 'anti-India content' against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor that targeted Pakistani terrorist infrastructure. The websites of the news organisations were accessible at the time of writing this article. A series of X accounts have been blocked for spreading 'anti-India content,' much of which is alleged to be linked to or supportive of narratives from Pakistan. The blocking coincided with Operation Sindoor, which was launched in the early hours of May 7. India hit nine terror camps and multiple Pakistani military targets before the ceasefire was announced on May 10. A government official neither confirmed nor denied whether new blocking orders were issued to X. More accounts may be added as the situation evolves, the official added. The official said that less popular accounts sharing 'anti-India content' will also be taken down. On May 8, X said it received executive orders from the Indian government to block over 8,000 accounts in India, including those of international news organisations and prominent X users. X voiced disagreement over the orders. '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.' Turkey and China supported Pakistan during the conflict with India. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed solidarity with what he called the 'brotherly' state of Pakistan. In response, a 'Ban Turkey' campaign gained traction on Indian social media, with users calling for sanctions against Ankara. In a strongly worded thread addressed to Global Times, the Indian embassy in Beijing on May 7 criticised the outlet's coverage of Operation Sindoor, accusing it of spreading disinformation. '...we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation,' the embassy wrote. It added that several pro-Pakistan handles were spreading baseless claims in the context of Operation Sindoor, attempting to mislead the public. 'When media outlets share such information without verifying sources, it reflects a serious lapse in responsibility and journalistic ethics.' X accounts of independent media outlets, including Maktoob Media, The Kashmiriyat, and Free Press Kashmir, and prominent journalists Anuradha Bhasin (Kashmir Times) and Indian Express's Muzamil Jaleel remain blocked on the micro-blogging platform.
The Wire
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Wire
‘Outlook' Has X Account Withheld, Later Restored In India
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Media 'Outlook' Has X Account Withheld, Later Restored In India The Wire Staff 2 minutes ago It is unclear what triggered the move against the magazine. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Donate now Logo of Outlook magazine. New Delhi: Outlook 's X account was withheld in India and later restored on Sunday (May 11), with the magazine saying the action was imposed without warning. It is unclear what triggered the move against Outlook, which is the latest among a string of media houses or journalists to have their X accounts withheld in India in response to a legal demand. Other accounts that X withheld from India due to legal demands are that of the BBC's Urdu service, The Kashmiriyat and Maktoob Media news outlets, and Jammu and Kashmir-based senior journalist Anuradha Bhasin. The first of these has since been restored. After its account was withheld, Outlook said in a press release that its account was 'blocked without any warning'. 'We have written to X, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to restore it immediately. We will keep the readers posted on the developments,' said Outlook. It added: ' Outlook has upheld the highest quality of objective and balanced journalism for thirty years, and will continue to do so.' Once its account was restored on Sunday evening, the magazine said: 'We appreciate the prompt response and thank our readers for their continued support.' X had announced via its Global Government Affairs division on Thursday that it received orders from the Union government to withhold no less than 8,000 accounts on its platform and that it would comply with the demands despite disagreeing with them. Subsequently, Global Government Affairs had its X account withheld and later restored in India. The Wire had its website blocked in India on government orders on Friday and restored on Saturday. The Union information and broadcasting ministry informed The Wire that its site was blocked based on a request regarding a particular article on its website. The developments occurred amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, which escalated into military operations by either side against the other until a ceasefire was announced on Saturday afternoon. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News 130 Content Censorship Notices Issued Under Home Ministry's Sahyog Portal Since October: Report 'Hugely Welcome': UK, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia Welcome India-Pak Ceasefire MHA Directs States and Union Territories to Hold Civil Defence Mock Drills on May 7 The Government Needs to Focus on 'Mule Accounts' to Curb Cyber Scams 'Pahalgam Attackers Communicating With Pakistan-Based Handlers, Our Response Proportionate': Govt Unravelling of Dollar Hegemony: With Capitalism's Crisis Comes China's Quiet Revolution The Deep Love Affair Between Mangoes and the Mughals The Vanquished West: 50 Years After the End of Vietnam War, a Memoir of Resistance by the Global South Will the Judiciary Counter the Sangh's Attack on the Indian Constitutional Order? About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Censorship Surge in India Undermines Independent Journalism
Published : May 10, 2025 16:29 IST - 8 MINS READ On May 8, the prominent social media platform X said it was forced to block more than 8,000 accounts in India following executive orders from the government. Those affected by the ban told Frontline that it 'blatantly violates the law of the land' and that the 'irrational censorship sets a bad precedent for free speech in a democracy'. During heightened tensions between India and Pakistan—the two nuclear neighbours and arch-rivals—several leading web portals, YouTube channels, and individual X handles have been suspended. Among the foremost portals whose X accounts remain withheld include Maktoob Media and BBC Urdu. In the case of the online news portal The Wire, the website was blocked on May 9 on the government's orders. According to an internet service provider, The Wire was 'blocked as per the order of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the IT Act, 2000'. Later in the day, the website was again accessible to readers after over 12 hours had passed. The Wire then issued a statement wherein it said that according to the response they received from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), the website had been blocked on the basis of a request regarding a piece citing a CNN report on the ongoing India-Pakistan border tensions. While The Wire stated that it had removed the said piece from public view, it added that it would present its case in front of the designated authority and reserved its right 'to challenge this unconstitutional attack on freedom of press'. Siddharth Varadarajan, founding editor of The Wire, on May 9 said: 'We protest this blatant censorship at a critical time for India when sane, truthful, fair and rational voices and sources of news and information are among the biggest assets that India has.' He accused India's major television news channels of indulging in 'fake news' and 'dangerous reporting' in sensitive times. He added that The Wire has been 'one of the largest Indian news platforms that has been reporting on the emerging situation with responsibility and restraint. The blocking order is unconstitutional. It is an attack on press freedom and on the right of every Indian to access information.' Individual journalists also targeted Besides this, individual accounts of senior journalists such as Anuradha Bhasin and Muzamil Jaleel have been made inoperative with effect from May 9. Anuradha Bhasin, who originally hails from Jammu, is the managing editor of Kashmir Times, an English-language newspaper that was earlier published from both Srinagar and Jammu, and the author of A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370 (2022). Bhasin, who currently lives in the US, said that the blocking of her X handle in India 'came as a huge surprise'. 'It is shocking. The scale at which the voices are disappearing is distressing. Mostly, those banned are the sane voices and professional journalists who sift fact from fiction. But those who sensationalise and further amplify the fake narratives during sensitive times are enjoying the government's patronage,' Bhasin told Frontline. She articulated that during war hysteria, it is critically important to have voices of reasons and restraint, not sensationalism. Also Read | Operation Sindoor and the war at home According to X, it received executive orders from the Indian government requiring the social media platform 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 accounts belonging to international news organizations and prominent X users.' It further said that, in most cases, 'the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India's local laws. For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts. To comply with the orders, we will withhold the specified accounts in India alone. We have begun that process. However, we disagree with the Indian government's demands.' The Wire is not the only major platform to face suspension. At the time of writing this piece, BBC Urdu's account on X (@BBCUrdu) was also withheld. Shockingly, even the Global Affairs account of X was temporarily suspended only a day after it became known that the government had ordered the platform to block over 8,000 accounts. When X users tried to access these accounts, they could only see a blank screen that read 'Account Withheld'. 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 '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. This is not an easy decision, however keeping the platform accessible in India is vital to Indians' ability to access information,' X Global Affairs said in a statement, adding it believes that 'making these executive orders public is essential for transparency – lack of disclosure discourages accountability and can contribute to arbitrary decision making. However, due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders at this time. X is exploring all possible legal avenues available to the company.' X encouraged all those adversely impacted by these blocking orders to 'seek appropriate relief from the courts'. Prevailing atmosphere of censorship Another victim of this censorship was Maktoob Media, a news platform that extensively covers stories of the minorities. On May 8, the X account of Maktoob Media was made inoperative. Shaheen Abdullah, the deputy editor of the organisation, told Frontline that the ban 'blatantly violates the law of the land and the whole idea of free media. It is an attempt to muzzle and choke independent media outlets. Moreover, it is a sign how press freedom is deteriorating in India.' In terms of press freedom, India ranks at 151 out of 180 countries as per the 2025 World Press Freedom Index released by the Paris-based organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Similarly, the US-based Freedom House in its 2025 report (titled 'Freedom in the World 2025') said that in terms of Global Freedom and Internet Freedom, India remains 'partly free', scoring 63 and 50 points respectively out of 100. Abdullah was of the view that the government had either already prepared a list of journalists, media outlets, and YouTube channels or used any specific AI tool to get data about major independent and credible media outlets and individuals that it intended to block. 'We did not receive any prior notification explaining the reasons behind the decision. It is a dangerous precedent. Imagine, we are not able to report facts. Everything is controlled,' Abdullah told Frontline, adding 'we are definitely challenging the illegal ban and irrational censorship in the court of law'. 'Anybody who gives accurate analysis of the situation and deals with objective facts is banned. On the other hand, anybody who screams on television screens and disseminates fake news is rewarded and decorated.'Pravin SawhneyEditor, FORCE Furthermore, he said that his news platform has to fight for its existence and for independent journalism to highlight different perspectives so as to amplify the forgotten voices. He argued that, in the prevailing atmosphere of censorship, 'every expression entails a cost'. Internet service providers said the sites are 'blocked as per the order of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology'. Moreover, the I&B Ministry directed all OTT platforms, digital streaming services, and intermediaries operating in India to 'immediately discontinue all web series, films, songs, podcasts, and any other media content originating from Pakistan'. Earlier, the Instagram accounts of renowned Pakistani film and television actors like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan were blocked in India. 'One of the worst autocratizers' In yet another development, a recent video on India-Pakistan escalation and aerial strikes uploaded on YouTube by Pravin Sawhney, editor of the defence magazine FORCE, was also blocked. In the video, Sawhney, a defence analyst and a former Indian Army officer, had been critical of the government's recent decision to use air strikes against Pakistan. 'Anybody who gives accurate analysis of the situation and deals with objective facts is banned. On the other hand, anybody who screams on television screens and disseminates fake news is rewarded and decorated,' Sawhney told Frontline, adding 'blocking credible accounts, individuals, and channels shows that the government is in a panic mode.' However, he said there was no point in challenging the ban legally. Also Read | India vs Pakistan: Why 'settling the score' still decides the fight The X accounts of two news portals run by Kashmiris, Free Press Kashmir and The Kashmiriyat, were also suspended 'in response to a legal demand by the government'. Qazi Zaid, who runs Free Press Kashmir, said that he was not aware of any specific post or news story that may have violated the social media platform's policies or local laws. 'Our reportage is consistent with journalistic standards and public interest reporting. Without transparency from the platform regarding the triggering content or legal basis, we are unable to confirm what specifically led to this action.' Global watchdogs and organisations such as the Sweden-based V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Institute have been critical of the Indian government. According to V-Dem's 2025 report titled '25 Years of Autocratization – Democracy Trumped?', globally India has been 'one of the worst autocratizers lately'. However, India has rejected these global reports on media freedom, free speech, religious freedom for minorities, and democracy, etc., describing them as 'motivated'. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence directed all media channels, digital platforms, and individuals to 'refrain from live coverage or real-time reporting of defence operations and movement of security forces'.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Several accounts withheld as govt cracks down on online info
The Global Government Affairs handle of X was briefly unavailable on Friday morning, a day after the social media company used the profile to disclose purported directions from the Indian government to takedown thousands of accounts in the country in connection with posts pertaining to the conflict with Pakistan. The account was quickly restored, with people aware of the matter saying that the block was an error made by X itself. X announced through its Global Government Affairs account on May 8 that it was complying with government directives to block over 8,000 accounts in India. The company noted it disagreed with many of the takedown requests, including those targeting international news organisations and prominent voices on the platform. The wave of blocks comes amid Operation Sindoor, an Indian military offensive against Pakistan launched early on May 7 as a response to Islamabad's continued harbouring of terrorists. As tensions escalate, the government has increased efforts to control online information. Among the blocked accounts were those belonging to independent media outlets including Maktoob Media, The Kashmiriyat and Free Press Kashmir. Accounts of prominent journalists, including Kashmir Times editor Anuradha Bhasin and Indian Express's Muzamil Jaleel, were also affected. These accounts were not visible in India, with a message on their profiles, statingthat their accounts have been withheld in India in response to a legal demand. Digital news platform The Wire reported its website was blocked across India on May 9, allegedly by the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB). 'We protest this blatant censorship at a critical time for India when sane, truthful, fair and rational voices and sources of news and information are among the biggest assets that India has,' The Wire said in a statement. The MIB did not respond to requests for a comment. A government official who asked not to be named cited recent advisories issued by the government, one asking media channels to not show live coverage of defence operations, and another asking OTT platforms to not carry Pakistani content. The official said that while the government may overlook minor lapses in regular circumstances, it can reinforce the advisories with more effect in war-like situations. The government's media policy drew criticism from political quarters. Communist Party of India general secretary D Raja questioned information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a May 9 letter about why platforms like The Wire were being blocked while channels promoting 'inflammatory and misleading content' remained operational. 'While the nation stands united against terrorism, we are witnessing a dangerous trend where certain channels are communalising the issue, spreading unverified claims, and promoting war hysteria,' Raja wrote. Former information and broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur defended wartime censorship as necessary for public safety. 'Misinformation leads to various issues — it caused thousands of deaths during the pandemic. During war, it creates division. The MIB and IT ministry must issue strict directions,' he told HT. X is engaged in a legal battle with the Indian government in Karnataka HC over the legitimacy of content-blocking directives under the Information Technology Act. The case is scheduled to be heard next on July 1.
Al Jazeera
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
The sound and fury of Indian media post-Kashmir
A deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir shattered a narrative Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has spent years constructing – that Kashmir was safe, open for business, and back to 'normal'. In response, Indian officials have launched a sweeping crackdown and spurred nationalist rhetoric. Much of the media is echoing the government line. Too busy demanding revenge to ask the most basic of questions: How did this happen? Contributors: Anuradha Bhasin – Managing editor, Kashmir Times Sreenivasan Jain – Journalist and author Swasti Rao – Associate professor, Jindal Global University; consulting editor, The Print Nirupama Subramanian – Journalist In Pakistan, the media narrative on what happened in Kashmir has been dominated by powerful military and intelligence figures. But on social media, users are pushing back with satire and scepticism. Ryan Kohls reports. Donald Trump has completed the chaotic first 100 days of his second term, marked by aggressive policies, talk of annexing neighbouring countries, and declarations of war against the mainstream media, universities and law firms. His administration's online presence, filled with brash language and often cruel memes, reflects and amplifies his confrontational political style. Meenakshi Ravi reports. Featuring: Meredith Clark – UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media Jon Roozenbeek – Professor of psychology and security, King's College London Jude Russo – Managing editor, The American Conservative
