The Indian government’s takedown orders have drawn criticism from X, which warns the move undermines free speech and lacks justification.
BY PC Bureau
India has launched a sweeping crackdown on social media, with X (formerly Twitter) beginning to block access to more than 8,000 accounts following executive directives from the Indian government. The orders were accompanied by warnings of steep fines and possible jail time for the platform’s local staff in the event of non-compliance.
The blocked accounts reportedly include those belonging to international media outlets and well-known users. In a statement issued through its Global Government Affairs account, X said it was complying with the directive to avoid the risk of a complete shutdown of the platform in India. However, the company condemned the government’s approach, citing a lack of transparency and due process.
“This is not an easy decision,” X stated. “However, keeping the platform accessible in India is vital to ensure Indians can access and share information.”
X criticized the opaque nature of the takedown orders, saying many provided no explanation of which content was deemed unlawful. “In most cases, the Indian government did not specify what content violated local laws. For many accounts, we received no evidence or justification at all,” the company said.
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Calling the blanket bans an act of censorship, X argued that blocking entire accounts—as opposed to individual posts—undermines freedom of expression. “This approach suppresses not just current content but also any future communication, posing a serious threat to free speech,” the statement read.
🇮🇳❗️𝕏 has received executive orders from the Indian government to block over 8,000 accounts in India, including those of international news organizations and prominent users. pic.twitter.com/BIwZ9RO976
— MoLo44🎖️ (@MoloOSINT) May 8, 2025
Due to legal restrictions, X said it cannot publish the executive orders but urged the government to release them publicly in the interest of transparency and accountability.
In line with its policies, X has notified affected users and encouraged them to seek legal recourse. It shared contacts for legal support organizations such as iProbono India and the National Legal Services Authority.
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While the company is exploring limited legal avenues within Indian law, it acknowledged that its ability to challenge the government’s directives is significantly constrained. “Unlike individuals in India, X has limited legal standing to contest these orders,” it noted.
