The Modi Govt Bans Reuters X Accounts in India controversy has reignited debate over online censorship and foreign media access. Over the weekend, millions of Indian users suddenly lost access to Reuters’ main X (Twitter) account and its global handle, Reuters World.
On Saturday evening, visitors found a notice saying the accounts were withheld “in response to a legal demand.” Consequently, the block cut off direct Reuters updates for Indian audiences. This unexpected move came shortly after the failed “Operation Sindoor.” Reports claimed officials targeted foreign news and influencer accounts. Additionally, X restricted Turkey’s TRT World and China’s Global Times. Therefore, many observers believe India may be tightening its grip on foreign voices online.
However, the government quickly stepped in to clarify the situation. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) denied issuing any fresh block order. Instead, officials stated, “There is no requirement from the Government of India to withhold Reuters handle.” They blamed a technical slip by X’s moderation system. Meanwhile, MeitY confirmed it worked with X to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the block linked back to an older legal order from May 2025. X may have mistakenly enforced this outdated directive while updating backend tools. As a result, by Sunday evening, Reuters and Reuters World became accessible in India again. Notably, other Reuters handles, such as Reuters Asia and Reuters Tech News, remained live throughout the confusion.
Furthermore, the brief blackout frustrated free speech advocates. They argue the Modi Govt Bans Reuters X Accounts in India episode highlights how sudden blocks or outdated legal actions can disrupt trusted news. Therefore, many worry India’s digital policy still lacks solid safeguards for international media.
Reuters released a short statement, stressing its commitment to local laws. Moreover, it thanked MeitY for working to restore the accounts quickly. Experts now expect Reuters to push for clearer processes to avoid future bans.
For now, all Reuters X accounts work normally in India. However, the incident raises questions. Will other foreign news outlets face sudden takedowns too? How will India balance national security with freedom of information?
FactFile will continue to monitor the Modi Govt Bans Reuters X Accounts in India situation and report new developments as they happen.
