In a significant move, Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) confirmed on Thursday that the Indian government has instructed the platform to block over 8,000 accounts. This decision comes amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the loss of 26 lives.
In a statement, X revealed that it had received executive orders from the Indian government mandating the block of 8,000 accounts within the country. These orders include restrictions on accounts belonging to international news organizations and high-profile X users. The platform stated that failure to comply could lead to severe penalties, including significant fines and potential imprisonment of local employees.
While X confirmed its intention to comply with the orders, it emphasized that the decision to restrict access to these accounts in India was not taken lightly. “Maintaining access to our services in India is essential for the country’s ability to access information,” X said, expressing concerns over the legal limitations that prevent the publication of the executive orders.
The platform also stressed the importance of transparency in the process, noting that the lack of public disclosure of such executive orders could discourage accountability and lead to arbitrary decision-making. X reiterated its belief that making these orders public is crucial for ensuring transparency.
This move follows India’s recent actions to crack down on Pakistani content online. The Indian government had earlier banned over a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels, accusing them of spreading provocative and inflammatory content. The government also restricted access to the Instagram account of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Imran Khan.
Additionally, several prominent Pakistani public figures, including actors Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam, and cricketers such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shahid Afridi, and Wasim Akram, have been blocked or blacklisted on Indian social media platforms.
The crackdown has intensified as misinformation surrounding India’s Operation Sindoor spread across social media platforms, with users sharing manipulated visuals, including deepfake videos, falsely attributed to recent cross-border incidents. The surge in misinformation highlights the sensitive nature of the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions.
As the situation continues to unfold, both governments remain engaged in efforts to curb online content they deem harmful or provocative, further complicating the relationship between the two nations in the digital space.
