Indian Government Asks X to Block Over 2,300 Accounts, Including Reuters; Later Denies Action

X (formerly Twitter) has said it was directed by the Indian government to block more than 2,300 accounts, including international news agency handles like Reuters and ReutersWorld, under Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act. The directive was reportedly issued on July 3, 2025, and required urgent compliance within an hour — without any official explanation.

In a statement released by X’s Global Government Affairs team, the company claimed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had warned of criminal liability if the order was not followed. The blocked accounts were to remain inaccessible until further notice.

> “After public outcry, the government requested X to unblock Reuters and ReutersWorld,” X stated in its post on Tuesday.

However, the Indian government later denied issuing such specific orders regarding the Reuters accounts. A MeitY spokesperson clarified:

> “There is no requirement from the Government of India to withhold the Reuters handle. We are in continuous discussions with X to resolve this issue.”

Censorship Concerns and Legal Challenges

The situation has triggered fresh concerns about press freedom and censorship in India. X expressed deep concern over what it called ongoing restrictions on free speech in the country.

> “X is exploring all legal options available. Unlike users located in India, X is restricted by Indian law in its ability to bring legal challenges against such executive orders,” the company said. It also urged affected users to pursue legal remedies through Indian courts.

What is Section 69A of the IT Act?

Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, gives the Indian government power to direct any platform to block public access to content in the interest of national security, sovereignty, or public order. However, such orders are often issued confidentially, raising concerns about transparency and misuse.

Key Takeaways:

X said it was ordered by the Indian government to block 2,355 accounts on July 3, 2025.

The order included major accounts like Reuters and ReutersWorld.

The government later denied instructing the platform to block Reuters handles.

X voiced concern over press censorship and urged users to seek legal redress.