Security News > 2024 > February > X protests forced suspension of accounts on orders of India's government

The global government affairs team at X has suspended some accounts and posts in India after receiving executive orders to do so from the country's government, backed by threat of penalties including significant fines and imprisonment.

The team revealed its actions on Thursday, writing "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." X has appealed the order and notified impacted users.

X did not discuss why India demanded account suspensions, but local media reported that India's Ministry of Electronics and IT ordered social media platforms to block temporarily 177 accounts linked to ongoing farmers' protests in an alleged effort to maintain public order.

Targeted accounts reportedly include politicians, prominent figures in the Unionist Sikh Mission, and accounts related to India's farming movement.

"These protests have once again highlighted a troubling trend: the use of internet shutdowns and social media bans to curtail communication and suppress dissent. While the government cites security concerns, these measures raise serious questions about the democratic space in India," asserted the SFLC. India is a leader when it comes to internet shutdowns across the world.

India's government justifies some shutdowns on grounds that large-scale protests imperil protestors and citizens alike, and asserts that silencing accounts and cutting off networks makes it harder to organize potentially dangerous events.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/02/23/x_india_farmers_compulsory_takedown/