- Reuters’ X accounts were briefly blocked in India on Saturday.
- A “legal demand” notice appeared, but the government denied issuing it.
- Reuters and X are working to understand what caused the restriction.
- The incident highlights ongoing concerns about online censorship.
Over the weekend, Indian users were unable to access the main Reuters accounts on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The brief restriction raised alarms about censorship, especially as both Reuters and government officials gave conflicting statements on what led to the move. Access was restored by Sunday.
Sudden Block Prompts Confusion
On Saturday evening, users in India trying to visit @Reuters and @ReutersWorld were shown a message that the accounts had been “withheld in IN (India) in response to a legal demand.” The main Reuters account, which has over 25 million followers, appeared to be blocked only in India, leading to speculation of government-ordered censorship.
Reuters confirmed it was looking into the issue with X. By Sunday, both accounts were fully accessible again to users in the region.
Indian Government Says It Gave No Order
Despite the message displayed by X, a spokesperson for the Indian government said no directive had been issued to block Reuters’ accounts. Officials said they were in communication with X and seeking to understand what caused the restriction.
Reuters stated that it had received a notice from X in May about content being withheld at the request of Indian authorities, but the message lacked detail, it did not specify which agency made the request or what content was targeted.
X Faces Ongoing Scrutiny Over Censorship
X has had a series of clashes with governments worldwide over content moderation demands. In India, the platform has pushed back against rules that it claims allow unchecked censorship.
Earlier this year, X filed a legal challenge against a government-run platform it believes enables officials to force content takedowns without oversight.
Similar conflicts have taken place in other countries, including Brazil, where X temporarily shut down operations after a standoff with the Supreme Court. That led to the platform being banned in Brazil for over a month.
Lack of Clarity Raises Transparency Concerns
Neither Reuters nor X has provided full details about what led to the temporary block or whether it was the result of a technical error or a miscommunication.
The brief restriction of a major global news agency has reignited concerns about transparency and the pressure platforms face from government regulations.
As of now, the accounts are back online and accessible to Indian users, but the incident remains unresolved publicly.
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