Reuters’ X Account Withheld in India Following Legal Order
India has restricted access to the main X (formerly Twitter) account of global news agency Reuters, citing a “legal demand.” Users in India attempting to visit the handle now see a message stating that the account has been withheld in the country due to legal reasons. The restriction is geographically limited to India and does not affect users abroad.
Scope of the Block
While the main @Reuters account is currently inaccessible to users in India, other affiliated handles—such as Reuters Tech, Reuters Asia, Reuters Fact Check, and Reuters China—remain active and viewable. The Reuters website also continues to function normally without any limitations.
Operation Sindoor Link
The withholding is believed to be linked to earlier takedown directives issued under “Operation Sindoor,” a national security-driven initiative launched in May, during which hundreds of social media accounts were blocked. At that time, Reuters’ main X account was not affected. It now appears that X may have executed the takedown belatedly or in error, based on an earlier, unresolved order.
No Fresh Government Action
Government officials have clarified that no new legal demand was issued to trigger this block. Instead, authorities have asked X to explain why the restriction was applied now and have urged the platform to reverse the action.
Platform Compliance and Policy Tensions
According to X’s policy, accounts may be withheld in a specific country if legally required to do so. Such action typically results from court directives or government notices. The platform, now owned by Elon Musk, has occasionally raised concerns about compliance expectations in high-regulation jurisdictions like India.
Broader Implications
The development has reignited concerns around transparency, press freedom, and the discretionary power exercised by both governments and platforms in content regulation. Media experts warn that actions like these could erode digital access to global journalism and affect how international agencies operate in the Indian information ecosystem.
Awaiting Clarification
India has requested that X provide clarity on the basis of the block and restore access if no valid legal grounds remain. The incident has sparked calls for clearer guidelines and greater transparency in the execution of content-related legal directives, especially when they involve globally respected media organizations.
