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Reuters Account Restored on X in India
The Reuters account on X, previously known as Twitter, was restored in India on Sunday evening, merely a day after facing a block due to a legal demand. The account, which has more than 25 million followers, had been inaccessible to users in India since Saturday night.
In a brief correspondence sent to the Reuters social media team, X stated, “At this time, we are no longer withholding access in INDIA to your account,” but did not elaborate on the reasons behind the suspension or its reversal.
Earlier in the day, a spokesperson from India’s Press Information Bureau informed Reuters that no directives had been issued by any government body to withhold the account. Officials were reportedly liaising with X to investigate and resolve the situation.
A spokesperson from Reuters confirmed that the agency had been collaborating with X to restore access, stating that “Reuters was working with X to resolve this matter and get the Reuters account reinstated in India as soon as possible.”
Additionally, another handle operated by the agency, Reuters World, was also blocked but was reinstated late on Sunday night.
When users in India tried to access @Reuters on Saturday, they encountered a message indicating that the account “has been withheld in IN (India) in response to a legal demand.” An earlier email from X dated May 16 had informed Reuters of a legal request under India’s Information Technology Act, 2000, which permits content to be blocked if it poses a threat to public order, national security, or violates local laws.
However, Reuters could not link the May 16 email to this recent suspension nor could it identify the specific government entity responsible for the takedown request. The email from X failed to specify which content prompted the action or provide clarity on the precise reasons for the block.
The relationship between X and the Indian government has been tense, particularly regarding content moderation policies. In March, X initiated a legal challenge against the government, claiming that a newly established official website provides extensive content removal powers to several government officials. Conversely, the Indian government insisted that X misrepresented the site, which it maintains merely serves to inform tech companies about problematic content.
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