Twitter Account Suspended | SabrangIndia News Related to Human Rights Fri, 09 May 2025 10:51:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://sabrangindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Favicon_0.png Twitter Account Suspended | SabrangIndia 32 32 Following executive order from government, X asked to block 8000 accounts in India https://sabrangindia.in/following-executive-order-from-government-x-asked-to-block-8000-accounts-in-india/ Fri, 09 May 2025 10:51:24 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=41688 Social media platform ‘X’ (former Twitter) informed on its Global Affairs account that, “we have begun that process, however, we disagree with the government’s demands, blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary—it amounts to censorship of both existing and future content,” X acknowledged the decision wasn’t easy but “keeping the platform accessible in India is vital to Indians' ability to access information,” X also added it had received no evidence or justification for the sweeping block order, in a controversial move, even X’s own @GlobalAffairs account was temporarily withheld in India—though later restored

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]]> On May 8, 2025, social media platform X announced that it has begun blocking over 8,000 accounts in India, in compliance with executive orders issued by the Indian government. The announcement was made through X’s official Global Government Affairs handle, where the company confirmed that the directive comes with serious legal threats, including “potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company’s local employees.”

X informed that “X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company’s local employees.”

Targeted accounts include international media and prominent users

According to X, the orders require blocking access to a broad range of accounts, including those belonging to international news organisations and prominent users on the platform.  Notably, the government has not provided specific details about the alleged legal violations committed by many of these accounts.

“The orders include demands to block access in India to accounts belonging to international news organisations and prominent X users. In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India’s local laws. For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts,” X said.

We disagree with the Indian government’s demands: X

To comply with the government’s directives, X stated it will withhold the specified accounts exclusively in India, ensuring they remain accessible from outside the country.

“We have begun that process. However, we disagree with the Indian government’s demands. Blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary, it amounts to censorship of existing and future content…” X said

X raises concerns over censorship and transparency

While moving forward with compliance, X strongly criticised the nature of the orders. It emphasised that blocking entire accounts amounts to pre-emptive censorship and threatens the free flow of information. X reiterated the importance of transparency in such matters and expressed frustration that legal constraints prevent it from publishing the executive orders.

“We believe that making these executive orders public is essential for transparency – lack of disclosure discourages accountability and can contribute to arbitrary decision-making. However, due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders at this time,” it said.

Legal action and advice to impacted users

X also revealed that it is exploring all possible legal avenues to contest the government’s directives. However, it acknowledged limitations in challenging these orders under Indian law and urged affected users to seek redress through the courts.

“Unlike users located in India, X is restricted by Indian law in its ability to bring legal challenges against these executive orders. However, we encourage all users who are impacted by these blocking orders to seek appropriate relief from the courts,” the post by X said.

We have no knowledge of the reason for the government’s arbitrary action: Maktoob

Following a government directive, X has withheld the X account of Maktoob Media in India. The platform has not provided a clear explanation, and the reasons behind this action remain undisclosed.

Aslah Kayyalakkath, founding editor of Maktoob Media, condemned the move, calling it an arbitrary act that strikes at the heart of press freedom.

“We have learned that @MaktoobMedia’s X account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand. We have no knowledge of the reason for the government’s arbitrary action. It is an assault on press freedom,” he stated. He further added that publication’s continued commitment to independent journalism despite mounting pressure.

“Maktoob pledges to continue its crucial work at a time when truth is becoming a casualty. At this hour of crisis, we ask our allies to share links from our website to help people access our reporting. We are many, many more than them” he said

The withholding of Maktoob Media’s account comes amid a growing pattern of restrictions on digital media platforms, raising fresh concerns over freedom of expression and the silencing of critical voices.

X account of senior journalist Anuradha Bhasin suspended, TheWire also faces crackdown

The X account of senior journalist Anuradha Bhasin, Executive Editor of Kashmir Times, has been suspended. Bhasin, known for her independent and fearless reporting from Kashmir, has been a significant voice for credible journalism, often providing verified, on-the-ground information that challenges official narratives.

Along with Bhasin’s account suspension, The Wire, one of India’s few remaining independent digital news outlets, has been blocked nationwide. But later visible.

Journalist Mandeep Punia has raised concerns over the growing crackdown on independent voices. He criticised the suspension of Bhasin’s account and the blocking of The Wire‘s website, stating:
“Credible journalists are being blocked, while those spreading fake news are being promoted. The Wire’s website has been blocked, and senior journalist @AnuradhaBhasin_’s Twitter account, which consistently provided credible information, has also been suspended.”

Siddharth Varadarajan of The Wire responds to the crackdown

Siddharth Varadarajan, founder of The Wire, has condemned the actions against his platform and Bhasin’s account. He called the blocking of the website and account a clear violation of press freedom in India. Varadarajan’s statement read:

“Dear readers of The Wire, in a clear violation of the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press, the Government of India has blocked access to thewire.in across India.”

After post, X’s Global Affairs account temporarily withheld in India, later restored

After the Indian government directed the blocking of approximately 8,000 accounts on X (formerly Twitter), citing national security concerns, the platform made this information public through its official global affairs handle, @GlobalAffairs. The move sparked widespread discussion and debate across the internet about the nature and transparency of such governmental block orders. In a surprising development, shortly after these discussions gained traction, the @GlobalAffairs account itself was briefly withheld in India.

Reacting to the development, ALT News co-founder and fact-checker Mohammed Zubair posted on X, “Wait! @GlobalAffairs is withheld in India.”

However, the account became visible again soon after.

Pakistan-based news outlets blocked on X amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions

The X (formerly Twitter) handles of prominent Pakistan-based news organisations such as Dawn and GeoNews are currently inaccessible in India, marking a continuation of the government’s broader clampdown on digital content originating from across the border. This move comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s recent military action, and reflects a growing strategy of information control during times of national security concerns.

In a rare disclosure, X revealed the volume of content takedown requests issued by Indian authorities, shedding light on the expansive scale of censorship tied to the operation. The restrictions follow a similar move last month when, after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels—including major broadcasters like Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and GeoNews—accusing them of spreading provocative, communally sensitive content and disinformation targeting India and its security forces.

Disinformation surge on social media during ‘Operation Sindoor’

As Operation Sindoor unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday, platforms like X became a breeding ground for disinformation. Unverified visuals of airstrikes, exaggerated claims of retaliatory attacks, and even repurposed footage from video games were widely circulated, contributing to confusion and misinformation.

The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) fact-check unit actively intervened, debunking several viral posts. One such claim involved a forged letter allegedly written by a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist about a supposed BrahMos missile failure—PIB confirmed the letter was fake and that no such scientist exists.

In another instance, old footage of a crashed aircraft was falsely linked to a recent Pakistani strike, alleging the downing of an Indian Rafale jet near Bahawalpur.

PIB verified that the footage was outdated and the claim baseless.


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Hate Watch: Twitter suspends Kreately Media’s account after CJP complaints

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Will Twitter fly away from India soon?

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]]> Hindus for Human Rights (HHR) protests suspension of ‘X’ account https://sabrangindia.in/hindus-for-human-rights-hhr-protests-suspension-of-x-account/ Tue, 17 Oct 2023 12:58:33 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=30374 Progressive Hindus under the banner of Hindus for Human Rights (HHR) call out the Elon Musk-GOI axis in ensuring that their ‘X’ account is suspended

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]]> Calling out the Modi government for blocking its ‘X’ (formerly twitter) account, the HHR has stated that this is an “attempt to silence our voice by shutting down our Twitter account in India in collusion with Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter).”

In the early hours of Saturday, October 14, HHR learnt that X had “withheld” their Twitter account in India, “in response to a legal demand,” presumably by the Government of India (GOI). An ally of the group, the Indian American Muslim Council’s Twitter account has also been “withheld” similarly.

Incidentally, there was no prior intimation by X. Hindus for Human Rights (HHR) an advocacy and activist group of American Indians states that it has no idea why their account has been suspended but conjectures that any “movement of progressive Hindus and their supporters is speaking up to save Indian democracy”.

The public statement issued by HHR also flags what it states as being a “ coordinated plan of transnational repression by the Modi government, assisted by their eager partners in the diaspora” and adds that “this action against HHR and IAMC (and others) may well represent the beginning of a massive clamp down of anti-Modi voices prior to the 2024 elections in India.”

It may be recalled that the same group, HHR, has faced the first step when a SLAPP lawsuit (civil suit for defamation) was brought against them by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) in May 2021 against its co-founders. The case was dismissed.

Thereafter, there was incessant trolling of the organisation following the Dismantling Global Hindutva conference in September 2021, in which many had participated as practicing Hindus. HHR had responded and debunked the narrative that the conference was Hinduphobic.

Following the Rahul Gandhi visit to the United States in May 2023, HHR faced another onslaught with a Union Minister in the Modi cabinet, claiming on national TV that there was a “conspiracy among Rahul Gandhi, George Soro, and HHR’s co-founder Sunita to destroy India”. When this powerfully motivated slur failed to gain traction, this silencing of the voice of outward looking Hindus based in the United States has been attempted. The suspension of the ‘X’ (formerly twitter) account in India.

The statement issued by HHR states that they, as progressive Hindus, are speaking out against the danger of Hindutva ideology and the Modi government’s anti-minority actions, which run counter to the basic values of Hinduism. They affirm that they will not be silenced or stopped.

Like “a river” that “flows on in spite of boulders in the way, finding its way around”, as long as “people like Umar Khalid, Teesta Setalvad, Harsh Mander, Arundhati Roy, Newsclick, Amnesty India ….. as long as brave defenders of Indian democracy are continuing to fight, HHR will stand with them.”

HHR has called the current struggle as the “second freedom struggle for India”, nothing less.

The statement ends with a statement from HHR co-founder Raju Rajagopal, about Modi, Biden, and Human Rights through the lens of the Bhagavad Gita: “The action undertaken from delusion, without regard to capacity and to consequences – loss and injury to others – that is declared to be dark [vikarma].” (XVIII-25)

The statement may be read in its entirely here:

Download PDF

 

Related:

In a global storm of censorship, Hindus for Human Rights, IAMC and journalists accounts have been suspended

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]]> In a global storm of censorship, Hindus for Human Rights, IAMC and journalists accounts have been suspended https://sabrangindia.in/journalist-account-withheld-as-censorship-takes-to-storm-globally/ Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:42:54 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=30357 A web of suppression takes root as governments and tech giants clamp down on voices of dissent during the Israel-Hamas conflict

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]]> As the Gaza strip is stripped of water, electricity, and internet by the Israeli government amidst the barrage of bombing, reports of media censorship by governments around the world on the issue of the Palestine and Israel conflict have risen. From Indian journalists to Al Jazeera anchors, and organisations for human rights based in the USA, censorship has affected a wide range of actors, from journalists to activists, across the world.

In what seems to be a recent step emerging from a global pattern, Elon Musk’s X has seemingly muzzled the voices of journalists and organisations that argue for peace and human rights by suspending their X accounts. This move has cast a dark shadow on freedom of expression and a free and fair press for Indian citizens. The affected accounts included those of the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR). They are reportedly withheld in response a “legal demand” – allegedly by the Indian government. It is important to note a member of the HfHR was present as a recent United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hearing took place on October, 3 2023. The hearing was held due to concerns of violence against Muslims in Christians, and other religious minorities, in India have grown. The commission sought to provide recommendations for policy measures to the US state department as the hearing was held after two important bilateral meetings that took place between the country’s top leaders, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden.

 

Similarly, Meer Faisal, a prominent reporter known for his extensive coverage of hate crimes in the country, found that his X account was “withheld” within the boundaries of India, reportedly at the request of the Union government, according to Maktoob Media. The message displayed on his account explained that this action, once again, was taken “in response to a legal demand,” although there is no clarification by X as to what or why this move was taken, the journalist expressed his shock at the sudden restriction of his account to Maktoob, stating, “I hadn’t been active for a few days, and when I opened the app to tweet, I realised it had been withheld.” For Meer Faisal, this was not just about losing access to a social media platform, but that it was a significant blow to press freedom.

He asserted further stating, “Withholding an account or censoring a journalist’s work constitutes a violation of press freedom,” highlighting the gravity of the situation.” Describing further the situation, “I believe my account was withheld due to the stories where I speak about the rights of Muslims and marginalised communities. I can’t recall any specific story that justifies this level of suppression of expression.”

However, India is not the only place where issues of censorship, danger to a free press and journalism are looming large. At least 12 journalists have been killed, and eight wounded in the initial eight days of the Israel-Hamas war, according to media reports. As we speak, there are reports emerging that the Israeli cabinet is set to discuss a proposal to ban Al Jazeera’s coverage in Israel. Al Jazeera is a global media channel that has been reporting on ground from Gaza since the day the war was declared.

Another alarming development is the heavy-handed approach of tech giants like Meta and X in censoring content related to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Al Jazeera Arabic presenter Tamer Almisshal had his Facebook profile deleted just 24 hours after airing a program that ironically was slated to examine Meta’s censorship of Palestinian content. The investigative report by Almisshal delved into the disparities in how Palestinian and Israeli posts are treated by Facebook. The report had been touted to include admissions by Eric Barbing, who is former head of Israel’s cybersecurity apparatus, about efforts to track Palestinian content based on criteria as benign as “liking” a photo of a Palestinian killed by Israeli forces.

In a similar vein, social media users who post about pro-Palestinian sentiments are asserting that they are experiencing a sharp crackdown on their content in the wake of the intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Such accounts have been reportedly suspended or banned on platforms like TikTok etc. Another example is of Mondoweiss which was a news and analysis account dedicated to Palestine, which has reported that its TikTok account had been temporarily taken down. Moreover, several Instagram, which is also owned by Meta, users have also voiced their concerns about content restrictions and the inability to go on livestream. One London-based user requested anonymity for fear of harassment revealed that her Instagram stories related to Palestine received extremely low viewership. It was only when she posted a picture of a skirt that her viewership went high again.

As governments and tech giants worldwide bring their fist down on how to handle information as well as misinformation about the Israel-Palestine conflict and its digital footprint, it is evident that the silencing of voices has found its way across the globe. From BJP governments’ steps tackling voices that speak for peace to the international stage of the Middle East, the battle for free speech in the digital age has entered a new, complex phase that will seemingly define the status and safety of free speech and undeterred journalism for decades and generations to come.

 

Related:

A swarm of fake news hits social media from India, hatred for all that is Muslim given a fillip: Hamas-Israel conflict

Free Speech or Hate Speak?

Hate Speech is rampant while Free speech is criminalised 

Indian minorities must be protected, GOI needs to take steps: IAMC report

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]]> Twitter acts against hate speech, locks hate monger’s account https://sabrangindia.in/twitter-acts-against-hate-speech-locks-hate-mongers-account/ Wed, 17 May 2023 13:14:22 +0000 https://sabrangindia.com/?p=26049 Many people had submitted reports against the Twitter user who was occasionally tweeting hateful content against other communities

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]]> Twitter has locked an account for violating its community guidelines on hateful conduct. On May 10, the Twitter user with handle @AmirLadka had tweeted some derogatory content against the Muslim community referring to someone from the Muslim community in a denigrating manner. The tweet was reported by a member of our Hate Watch team and accordingly action was taken by Twitter.

Twitter said that it has locked @AmirLadka’s account on May 17, for breaking twitter’s hateful conduct rule. “We found they broke our hateful conduct rule through different reports we received about their behavior… We will ask them to remove the reported content if they want to regain full access to their account.”

 

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]]> Ex IPS Officer NC Asthana’s twitter account suspended for violating rules https://sabrangindia.in/ex-ips-officer-nc-asthanas-twitter-account-suspended-violating-rules/ Wed, 22 Jun 2022 13:34:19 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2022/06/22/ex-ips-officer-nc-asthanas-twitter-account-suspended-violating-rules/ Retired officer tweets against Muslim minorities and spews hate online

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Image Courtesy: thecognate.com

On June 22, 2022, Twitter suspended the account of Ex-IPS Officer Nirmal Chandra Asthana for violating the Twitter Rules for his anti-Muslim tweets.

Asthana is a 1986 batch officer and the former Director-General of Police (DGP) Kerala. He has previously served in senior positions in the Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and has also served as director of vigilance and the Anti-Corruption Bureau in Kerala. He retired in December 2019.

Last week Asthana had shared a video of Uttar Pradesh Police brutally assaulting the riots accused at Saharanpur police station calling it a “Beautiful scene”. The video had surfaced online soon after protests broke out in various parts of India over the remarks made by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma against Prophet Mohammed.

Twitter Account Suspended

In various tweets, Asthana praised Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath by addressing him as ‘Maharaj’ and supported the demolition drive undertaken in several parts of the country.

Twitter Account Suspended

Twitter Account Suspended

Twitter Account Suspended

Twitter Account Suspended

Two weeks ago, there was another viral video where an assistant professor in Aligarh was seen offering prayers in the garden of a college campus who was then reportedly suspended for a month as an inquiry was initiated against him. With respect to this, Asthana tweeted, “This is good news. People must be taught a lesson otherwise people catch hold of the whole hand when asked to hold a finger. This was only possible in Maharaj’s (Yogi Adityanath) rule.”

Twitter Account Suspended

He even went on to mock students when the Supreme Court rejected their plea to postpone NEET PG 2022 exam by calling them names such as ‘Latkhor’, ‘Gadho’, ‘Duffers’, etc.

Twitter Account Suspended

Twitter Account Suspended

Over the past weeks he has also been tweeting in support of police brutality. For example, he reportedly shared a picture of a Muslim protester being beaten using polycarbonate pipes by the police in Prayagraj, and tweeted that he regretted the introduction of these pipes and believed that the “good old linseed oil soaked bamboo lathis were better.”

Ironically, in December 2021, he wrote a piece for ‘The Wire’ titled, ‘Why Police Brutality and Torture Are Endemic in India’ and said that there is nothing intrinsic to the job of policing that makes them brutal or high-handed, reported the Print.

It is interesting to note that amongst his 49 books, he has written a book on ‘State Persecution of Minorities and Underprivileged in India’ which has been reviewed by Justice J. Chelameswar (Retd) of the Supreme Court. Moreover, in December 2021, he wrote yet another piece for ‘The Wire’ titled, ‘A Hate-Filled Call to Arms and Violence at Haridwar’ calling out hate spewed against the Muslim minorities at the religious conclave.

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Demons to Jihadis, BJP’s Haribhushan Bachaul targets Muslims yet again
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