X Global Affairs account withheld in India after government orders blocking of 8,000 accounts

X account withheld

The Global Affairs account of X has been withheld in India just a day after it was revealed that the Indian government had ordered the platform to block over 8,000 accounts.

Currently, when users try to access the Global Affairs account on X, they are met with a blank screen that reads "account withheld."

The platform had also posted about the block 8000 accounts order, explaining that the Indian government’s directive could lead to “severe penalties, including hefty fines and possible imprisonment for local employees of the company”.

According to X, the Indian government had demanded that access to accounts belonging to international news organizations and well-known figures on the platform be blocked. However, the company has raised concerns, stating that, in most cases, the government has not clarified which specific posts from the accounts violated Indian laws. In fact, X claims it was not provided with sufficient evidence or reasoning to block many of these accounts.

X also noted that the withholding of these accounts will only affect users in India, as the platform is still accessible globally. Despite the order, X expressed disagreement with the decision, calling it unnecessary and a form of censorship. The company argued that such actions go against the right to free speech, and blocking accounts harms users' ability to access diverse information.

The company has also stated that it is exploring all possible legal options, although it pointed out that Indian law limits its ability to challenge the order directly. X has encouraged affected users to seek legal relief through the courts.