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July 6, 2025 - Comments Off on Reuters X Account Withheld and Later Restored in India After Legal Demand

Reuters X Account Withheld and Later Restored in India After Legal Demand

https://www.dawn.com/news/1922497/reuters-x-accounts-withheld-in-india-local-media

https://www.dawn.com/news/1922534/reuters-x-account-restored-in-india-after-suspension-over-legal-demand

Reuters’ official X accounts (@Reuters and @ReutersWorld) were briefly withheld in India due to what X described as a legal demand, sparking confusion within the Indian media along with the Indian Ministry of Electronics and IT who denied issuing any such directive. X via its Global Affairs account issued a statement on May 8 saying it had “received executive orders from the Indian government” to “block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company’s local employees”.The block, which occurred on July 6, 2025, appeared linked to an older order from May reportedly involving “Operation Sindoor,” though it had not been previously enforced. Following media attention and public reaction, the accounts were restored the next day, with Indian authorities stating they were engaging with X to resolve the issue. “At this time, we are no longer withholding access in India to your account,” X said in an email to the Reuters social media team.

April 29, 2025 - Comments Off on India blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube channels

India blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube channels

In a move raising concerns about cross-border censorship, the Indian government blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including those run by major media outlets, independent journalists, and public figures.

The Ministry of Home Affairs reportedly recommended the bans, which have affected media organisations such as Dawn News, ARY News, Samaa TV, Geo News, and content creators and journalists including Shoaib Akhtar, Asma Shirazi, and Muneeb Farooq. Popular podcast ‘The Pakistan Experience’ by comedian Shehzad Ghias has also been blocked.

Viewers in India attempting to access these channels are now met with a notice citing government orders related to “national security or public order.” Indian tech journalist Aditi Agarwal noted the legal basis for the bans remains unclear.