In a move highlighting India's firm stance against misinformation, the government has blocked the X (formerly Twitter) accounts of several prominent international media outlets, including China's Global Times and Xinhua News, and Turkey's TRT World. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) reportedly issued the orders to block the accounts under India's IT laws.
The ban comes amidst heightened tensions with neighboring Pakistan and follows India's recent counter-terrorism operation, codenamed "Operation Sindoor". The blocked media outlets have been accused of disseminating false and unverified information, often echoing narratives originating from Pakistan, regarding the operation and related events.
The X accounts of the blocked media organizations now display the message "Account Withheld in IN in response to a legal demand". This action underscores India's commitment to safeguarding its national narrative and combating what it deems to be malicious disinformation campaigns, particularly from foreign entities, that could potentially undermine national security and public sentiment during sensitive times.
The Indian Embassy in Beijing had previously issued a strong advisory to Global Times on May 7th, urging the outlet to "verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation". The embassy specifically called out the publication for amplifying baseless claims from pro-Pakistan handles concerning Operation Sindoor. Similarly, TRT World's X account was blocked following Turkey's perceived support for Pakistan during the recent military standoff. Reports suggest that forensic analysis of drones involved in recent border incidents indicated Turkish origin, further straining relations.
This recent action is part of a broader effort by the Indian government to regulate online content and combat misinformation. Earlier in May 2025, the government had ordered X to block over 8,000 accounts within the country, including those of activists, journalists, and international media, many of whom have been critical of the state. X complied with the order under the threat of fines and potential imprisonment of its local employees but criticized the move as censorship and a violation of free speech. The platform stated that in many cases, the government did not provide specific justification or evidence for the content violations.
The blocking of these accounts has sparked debate about freedom of speech and government regulation of online content. While the government maintains that these actions are necessary to combat misinformation and maintain national security, critics argue that they represent an overreach of power and a suppression of dissenting voices. X has urged affected users to seek legal recourse through the Indian court system. The company has also said that it disagrees with the Indian government's demands, asserting that blocking of entire accounts suppresses free expression and undermines the right to access information.
