• X criticized India's government for ordering the blocking of 2,355 accounts, including Reuters' handles.
• The Reuters accounts were restored shortly after being suspended, indicating response to public outcry.
• Rights groups express ongoing concerns regarding press freedom in India under current governance.
• The Indian government denied involvement in the suspension of the Reuters accounts despite X's claims.
• Legislation under Section 69A of the IT Act allowed for the blocking of these accounts citing national security.

Social media platform X expressed its “deep concern” after the Indian government ordered the blocking of more than 2,300 accounts, which included two handles belonging to Reuters. This move, described by X as an act of "ongoing press censorship," prompted the swift restoration of the @Reuters and @ReutersWorld accounts within a day, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The Indian government reportedly ordered X to block these accounts on July 3, 2025, invoking Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which allows for such actions under the justification of national security and public order. X stated that the government demanded compliance within an hour and that failure to do so could result in criminal liability, as detailed by Dawn and Dawn.

While X's claims highlight a tense relationship between the platform and the Indian authorities, the Press Information Bureau of the Indian government denied that it had demanded the withholding of the accounts. Officials noted that they were in communication with X to resolve the issue, emphasizing the lack of direct involvement in these specific takedowns, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The restoration of the Reuters accounts followed significant public outcry, highlighting growing concerns over press freedom in India, particularly since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration came to power in 2014. Rights groups have asserted that freedom of expression is increasingly threatened, with the government regularly imposing internet shutdowns and bans aimed at curbing alleged disinformation, as referenced by Dawn and Dawn.

In response to these censorship practices, X stated its intention to explore all available legal options, although it acknowledged limitations imposed by Indian law. The platform urged affected users to seek legal remedies independently, stressing the precarious nature of content management under current conditions in India, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.