In a high-profile episode highlighting the complexities of social media regulation in India, X (formerly Twitter) blocked the main Reuters and Reuters World accounts for Indian users over the weekend, citing a “legal demand.” The accounts, which collectively serve millions of followers, became inaccessible in India on Saturday evening, displaying a message that they had been “withheld in IN (India) in response to a legal demand”
The move came as a surprise to both Reuters and Indian authorities. While X’s notice referenced a legal demand, the Indian government quickly denied issuing any new order to block Reuters’ accounts. An official spokesperson from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology clarified, “There is no requirement from the Government of India to withhold Reuters handle. We are continuously working with X to resolve the problem”.
Sources within the government pointed to possible confusion stemming from an earlier content blocking order during “Operation Sindoor”—a military engagement in May 2025. At that time, the government had issued over 8,000 orders to block various accounts, but Reuters’ main handle was not among those listed for action. Officials suggested that X may have erroneously enforced an old order or misunderstood the scope of previous requests.
A spokesperson for Reuters confirmed that the agency was working with X to restore access and emphasized that no prior notification had indicated their accounts would be blocked. Upon learning of the block, the Indian government sent a written directive to X, asking for an explanation and instructing the company to lift the embargo on Reuters’ accounts.
As of now, X has not publicly commented in detail on the incident, but its help center states that “country withheld” notices are issued when compelled by a valid legal demand, such as a court order or directive under local law.
After nearly 24 hours of restricted access, Reuters’ main X accounts were restored in India on Sunday following government intervention. Other Reuters-affiliated handles, such as Reuters Tech News and Reuters Asia, remained accessible throughout the episode.
This episode comes as X is engaged in an ongoing legal battle with the Indian government over content blocking mechanisms. The platform has previously criticized what it calls “unrestrained censorship of information in India” and is challenging the government’s use of section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act in court. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for July 8.
