Politics ASIA, CENSORSHIP, CHINA, CONTENT MODERATION, DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, EUROPE/ASIA, GLOBAL TIMES, HT, INDIA, MEXICO, NORTH AMERICA, PRESS FREEDOM, REUTERS, TRT WORLD, TURKEY, WORLD NEWS Nia Simpson July 7, 2025 0 Comments

X Handles of Reuters, TRT World, Global Times Restored in India

X handles for Reuters, TRT World, and Global Times were restored late Sunday.
The accounts were blocked for nearly 24 hours before being reinstated in India.
Government claims there was no requirement to withhold these accounts.
Operation Sindoor involved blocking over 8,000 foreign accounts.
Communication between X and Indian authorities remains a point of confusion.

International News Handles Restored After Being Blocked

Restoration of handles like Reuters and TRT World This past Sunday night, the X handles for several major international news organizations, including Reuters, Turkey’s TRT World, and China’s Global Times News, were restored. These accounts were previously blocked in India for nearly 24 hours, with messages indicating they had been withheld due to legal demands made by the government. This incident highlights ongoing tensions between government directives and social media platforms, particularly around the dissemination of information.

Confusion Over Blocking Orders and Compliance

Government response to X block raises questions After these accounts were unavailable, a spokesperson for the Information Technology ministry remarked that the government had not mandated the withholding of these accounts, noting they were actively cooperating with X to find a resolution. However, a senior official from the ministry mentioned that during Operation Sindoor, an initiative aimed at regulating foreign content, the government did indeed request a block on the Reuters handle, among others, yet it seems X didn’t comply with that order right away. This delayed response led to confusion about why specific accounts were blocked only after the government’s instruction had come and gone, sparking further speculation about the communication between authorities and the platform.

The blocking and subsequent restoration of X handles belonging to several international news organizations present a complex narrative of government policy and platform compliance. Despite official statements underscoring no direct orders to block these accounts, internal discrepancies suggest otherwise. As the situation continues to unfold, the implications for news dissemination and governmental controls over social media remain significant.