SRINAGAR, India — Journalists, digital media outlets and activists are raising the alarm after the Indian government ordered the blocking of nearly 8,000 X accounts in an unprecedented crackdown that has sparked widespread condemnation.
The mass takedown follows India-Pakistan skirmishes in which fighter jets were scrambled and missiles exchanged, raising fears of a broader conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Indian officials cited “national security” concerns as the basis for the order, but the sweeping action has sparked alarm over press freedom and transparency in the world’s largest democracy.
X confirmed the order in a statement posted by its Global Government Affairs account on May 8, stating that while it complied to avoid penalties and operational restrictions in India, it disagreed with the directive.
“To comply with the orders, we will withhold the specified accounts in India alone. We have begun that process,” the statement reads. “However, we disagree with the Indian government’s demands. Blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary, it amounts to censorship of existing and future content and is contrary to the fundamental right of free speech.”
Among the blocked accounts are those of media outlets, including China’s Xinhua and the Global Times, and Turkey’s TRT World. Several accounts belonging to journalists from across India and independent platforms like Free Press Kashmir, Maktoob, and the U.S.-based Hindutva Watch were also affected.
The Global Times account was reportedly restored a day later following a legal request.
The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has yet to disclose the complete list of blocked accounts or the criteria used in their removal. The ministry did not respond to Nikkei Asia’s inquiry by publication time.
News outlets like The Wire have extensively covered unrest in Kashmir — such as a rare valley-wide shutdown and harassment of Kashmiri students residing in other parts of India — following an attack on Indian tourists in the Kashmir region in April. Notably, The Wire, one of India’s leading digital news platforms, was entirely blocked on May 9, including its main news website and its X account.
Siddharth Varadarajan, The Wire’s founding editor, told Nikkei that the ban was lifted the next day only after the outlet removed a story claiming that Pakistan’s air force had shot down an Indian Rafale jet. He condemned the block as an assault on press freedom, saying it was imposed without due process.
“We were informed of the decision only 14-15 hours after it took effect and hours after we sought clarification from the Ministry,” Varadarajan said.
Varadarajan added that the blocking of social media handles and news websites reflects a broader pattern of “information control by the Modi government,” which he accused of favoring media that “supports the official narrative” while targeting outlets that raise questions.
Qazi Zaid, editor of Free Press Kashmir, told Nikkei that the outlet’s reporting adheres to journalistic standards and public interest, and was “not aware of any individual post or story that violated platform policies.”
“We did not receive any direct communication from X and are evaluating legal options,” Zaid added.
India has a history of pressuring social media platforms to censor content, particularly during political crises, including the widespread farmers’ protests in 2020 and 2021. However, critics argue that the scale of this latest action is unprecedented, signaling a troubling escalation in state-led online censorship.
Kunal Majumder, India representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), told Nikkei Asia that independent reporting is crucial during regional tensions to counter propaganda and misinformation.
“As Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted, the ability to criticize one’s government is a hallmark of democracy,” Majumdar said. “Yet the Indian government’s sweeping censorship — blocking thousands of accounts and an outlet like The Wire without explanation or oversight — undermines that principle.
“With a ceasefire now in place, authorities must lift all restrictions and allow the media to operate freely.”
The article appeared in the asia.nikkei