Several accounts on social media platform X have been withheld in India following legal demands, the company said, without specifying the reasons for the action.
The affected accounts, some of which are known for criticism of the federal government, became inaccessible in India on Wednesday. Notices on their profiles stated they had been withheld in response to legal requests.
Among those affected are parody accounts such as @DrNimoYadav, @Nehr_who and @indian_armada, as well as popular profiles including @mrjethwani_ and @Doc_RGM. The account of journalist and activist Sandeep Singh was also withheld.
Hartosh Singh Bal, editor of The Caravan magazine, said a March 14 post by the publication promoting a 2022 article had also been blocked. The post included the cover of an April 2002 issue of India Today magazine featuring Narendra Modi, then chief minister of Gujarat, with the headline “Hero of Hatred”.
Bal said the platform had received a blocking order from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under Section 69A of India’s Information Technology Act.
Section 69A allows authorised government officials to order the blocking of online content if it is deemed a threat to national security, sovereignty or public order.
The opposition Congress party criticised the move, calling it unacceptable.
Digital rights group Internet Freedom Foundation said it was concerned about reports of accounts and posts being withheld, including content it described as satirical or critical of the government.
“Users are receiving generic notices with little explanation, while some takedowns appear to affect political or satirical speech rather than clearly unlawful content,” the group said, adding that platforms should provide more detailed disclosures and transparency.
Prateek Waghre, a fellow at Tech Policy Press, said there appeared to be a “fresh mini-wave” of restrictions, largely targeting accounts rather than individual posts.
A list compiled by Waghre indicated that at least 316 accounts in India had been blocked as of Thursday in response to legal demands.