The official X (formerly Twitter) account of Reuters news agency has been withheld in India, with a notice displayed by the platform stating the action was taken “in response to a legal demand.” However, the move has sparked confusion, with government sources denying any fresh request and seeking an explanation from X.
Govt says old order, not relevant now
According to officials familiar with the matter, the only request for blocking Reuters’ X account was issued on May 7, during Operation Sindoor, a security exercise that led to the takedown of several hundred accounts for national security reasons. At the time, although multiple accounts were restricted, Reuters’ handle was reportedly not acted upon.
Sources now believe that X, owned by Elon Musk, may have mistakenly enforced the outdated order. “The issue is not relevant anymore. The government has reached out to X asking them to explain the blocking and lift the embargo,” said one official.
Reuters yet to respond
As of now, Reuters has not issued any public statement. An email seeking comment from the news agency remained unanswered at the time of publication.
Despite the block on Reuters’ main and Reuters World handles, several affiliated accounts including Reuters Tech News, Reuters Fact Check, Reuters Asia, and Reuters China remain accessible within India.
What the notice says?
Users attempting to access the blocked accounts are met with a message that reads: “Account withheld. @Reuters has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand.”
X’s help centre explains such notices typically appear when content or accounts are withheld following valid legal requests such as court orders or local laws.
(With PTI inputs)