X Blocks 8,000+ Accounts in India Under Government Order

X Complies with Indian Government Order to Block Over 8,000 Accounts Amidst Threats Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) has announced that it is complying with executive orders from the Indian government to block more than 8,000 accounts within the country. The company stated that failure to adhere to these directives could result in "significant fines and imprisonment" for its local employees. The Directive and Potential Repercussions In a statement released by its global government affairs team, X confirmed the receipt of orders from the Indian government. "X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company's local employees," the team posted on X. The company has subsequently begun restricting access to the flagged accounts for users in India. X's Reluctant Compliance and Concerns Over Censorship While complying with the orders, X has voiced its disagreement, describing the situation as "government-imposed censorship" [3]. The platform indicated it was "reluctantly complying" due to the severe potential consequences for its staff in India. A significant point of contention for X is the alleged lack of justification accompanying many of these blocking orders. "In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India's local laws," X's global affairs team stated [1]. They further added, "For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts". Scope of the Blocking Orders The blocking orders are reportedly extensive, targeting a diverse range of accounts. According to X, the demands include the blocking of international news organizations and other high-profile users. This move is not isolated; it follows closely on the heels of Meta banning a prominent Muslim news page on Instagram in India at New Delhi's request, indicating a broader pattern of social media content regulation. Geopolitical Context and Crackdown These actions by the Indian government are occurring against a backdrop of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The orders are seen by some observers as part of a "sweeping crackdown targeting social media accounts of Pakistani politicians, celebrities and media organisations". The aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 tourists, has also reportedly led to an increase in misinformation, potentially prompting stricter governmental controls. Implications for Free Speech The Indian government's directive and X's compelled compliance raise significant concerns regarding freedom of expression and the extent of governmental influence over digital platforms operating within the country. The threat of severe penalties, including imprisonment for local staff, places social media companies in a challenging position when navigating such governmental demands, potentially impacting the free flow of information.

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