India Rebukes X for Delayed Account Unblocking Amid Censorship Dispute
- July 8, 2025
- 0
India has strongly contested the claims made by X regarding the alleged censorship of international news channels, including @Reuters and @ReutersWorld. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India has clarified that it did not issue any orders to block these accounts. Instead, the ministry highlighted its proactive approach in requesting X to promptly restore access to the accounts once they were initially restricted.
The controversy began when X accused the Indian government of instructing the blocking of certain international news channels on its platform. However, Indian authorities have refuted these allegations, emphasizing that their actions were aimed at ensuring transparency and freedom of information. The ministry stated that upon learning about the restrictions, it immediately communicated with X to lift the blocks. Despite these efforts, the accounts remained inaccessible for over 21 hours, which the government attributes to delays on X’s part.
The Indian government has expressed dissatisfaction with X’s handling of the situation, criticizing the platform for its sluggish response in unblocking the accounts. This incident has sparked a broader discussion about the responsibilities of social media platforms in managing content and adhering to governmental requests without compromising on timely action.
This dispute underscores ongoing tensions between governments and social media companies over content regulation and censorship. It also raises questions about the accountability of digital platforms in responding to governmental directives while balancing user rights and information access. As digital communication continues to evolve, such incidents highlight the need for clear protocols and cooperation between governments and tech companies to prevent misinformation and ensure swift resolution of disputes.