Indian Government Orders X to Block Thousands of Accounts; Platform Begins Compliance

Elon Musk's microblogging network X (previously Twitter) has declared that it will block over 8,000 accounts in India in response to executive orders issued by the government. While complying with the directive, X expressed serious concerns about the potential consequences for the freedom of speech.

The company revealed that government orders target accounts of international media outlets and influential users, with some lacking any explanation or evidence of legal violations. In many cases, the authorities failed to clarify which posts violated local laws.

Despite objections, X has begun the process of restricting access to the specified accounts to Indian users only.The platform highlighted that full account restrictions are disproportionate and constitute censorship, affecting both current and future content from these individuals. X made it clear: "This is not an easy decision, but keeping the platform available in India is crucial for access to information."

X also emphasised the serious implications of noncompliance, which include significant penalties and the possibility of imprisonment for its local employees. Although the company is limited in its ability to directly challenge such orders under Indian law, it is examining all legal alternatives and encouraging affected users to seek remedy through courts.

The action rekindled debate in one of the world's largest internet markets about the balance of national regulations and digital rights.

This article is based on information from NDTV