X (Formerly Twitter) Complies with Indian Government’s Orders Amid Farmer Protest , Asserts Disagreement with Directives

In response to emergency blocking orders issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) regarding social media accounts and posts linked to the farmer protest , X , the social media company formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk, announced its compliance with the directives. However, X expressed its disagreement with the actions mandated by the Indian government, emphasizing its commitment to freedom of expression.

Through its Global Government Affairs account, X stated that while it would withhold specific accounts and posts in India as per the government’s orders, it maintains that freedom of expression should extend to these posts. The company underscored its support for freedom of speech and highlighted the pending writ appeal challenging the Indian government’s blocking orders.

X acknowledged the legal restrictions preventing the publication of the executive orders but emphasized the importance of transparency in such matters. Despite its compliance, X raised concerns about the lack of disclosure surrounding the orders, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency in decision-making processes.

The announcement comes amidst ongoing legal battles between X and Indian authorities over compliance with government directives. X has appealed against previous fines imposed by the Karnataka high court for non-compliance with blocking orders during the 2021 farmers’ protests.

Furthermore, X highlighted the lack of notification received by impacted users regarding the withholding of their content, citing discrepancies in communication. The company reiterated its commitment to providing notice to impacted users in accordance with its policies.

The recent blocking orders issued by the government have sparked controversy, with concerns raised about the suppression of dissenting voices and the impact on freedom of expression. Several accounts critical of the government, including those of independent journalists and news portals, have been suspended or withheld, raising questions about censorship and arbitrary decision-making.