Centre says it did not order Reuters’ X account to be blocked amid legal demand notice

India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has clarified that it did not issue any fresh demand to withhold Reuters’ main X (formerly Twitter) account in India. A government spokesperson labelled the current block as a likely mistake.

Reuters’ handle and its “Reuters World” variant were displayed as “withheld in IN (India) in response to a legal demand”, while affiliated accounts like Reuters Tech News, Reuters Asia, and Reuters Fact Check remain accessible.

According to officials speaking to news agency PTI, a legal order issued during Operation Sindoor on May 7 had requested the removal of hundreds of social media accounts. It appears this old order was acted upon only now by X, prompting the Reuters account block.

The government has formally asked X for clarification and urged the platform to lift the embargo, stating: “There is no requirement from the Government of India to withhold Reuters,” and emphasising swift resolution is underway.

X’s help centre notes that accounts are withheld when a valid legal demand—like a court order or statutory requirement—is received. The delay in enforcement may have led to the current confusion.

Reuters has yet to comment publicly on the issue.