New Delhi, May 8— Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) says it has received formal orders from the government of India to block more than 8,000 accounts within the country, including those of international media outlets and well-known public figures.
According to X, the government did not provide specific post-level violations in most instances, and many accounts were flagged without clear evidence.
“Blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary, it amounts to censorship of both existing and future content,” the company said.
X has begun restricting access to these accounts inside India while publicly disagreeing with the directive.
The platform said that non-compliance could expose its India-based employees to severe legal consequences, including possible fines and imprisonment.
“This is not an easy decision,” X said.
“Yet keeping the platform accessible in India is vital to ensuring that users continue to have access to information.”
Though X stressed the importance of transparency, it revealed that current laws prevent it from publishing the specific executive orders behind the block.
“The platform is exploring legal options but acknowledged that its ability to challenge government directives is significantly limited compared to individuals within India.”