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The Indian government has ordered the billionaire Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) to block certain accounts related to an ongoing farmers' "Delhi Chalo" protest.
In response, the company confirmed compliance with executive orders issued by the Indian government. However, X expressed its disagreement with the Indian government's directives and emphasized its commitment to freedom of expression.
“The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment," the official Global Government Affairs account of X wrote on the microblogging site.
“In compliance with the orders, we will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however, we disagree with these actions and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts," it said.
Written appeal remains pending
The company also said that a writ appeal challenging the Indian government's blocking orders remains pending.
"We have also provided the impacted users with notice of these actions in accordance with our policies. Due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders, but we believe that making them public is essential for transparency. This lack of disclosure can lead to a lack of accountability and arbitrary decision-making, the company added.
The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment.
— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) February 21, 2024
In compliance with the orders, we will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however,…
The development comes shortly after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) finalized its emergency order directing top social media companies like Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, X, and Snap to block 177 accounts that are related to the farmers' protest to maintain 'public order'.
Netizens reactions
Freedom of speech is a universal and fundamental human right
— The Dutch Doge Guy 🐕 (@070guy) February 21, 2024
This is how you win. Notifying the accounts is huge.
— TrashDiscourse (@TrashDiscourse) February 21, 2024
Only the corrupt want to censor. People who live in truth have nothing to fear.
— Mike Frost (@slfemp) February 21, 2024
I fully support 𝕏 decision to comply within the country alone and to challenge India’s government’s blocking with a writ of appeal.
— R3ap3r (@grimsr3ap3r79) February 21, 2024
This is exactly how a company should respond and only deepens my resolve for this platform.