In a surprising development late Saturday, the official X (formerly Twitter) account of global news agency Reuters (@Reuters) was blocked in India. The account now displays a message saying, “@Reuters has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand,” as seen by users trying to access it around 11:30 PM IST.
The restriction appears to be specific to India, as the account remains accessible from other countries. Additionally, the X account of Reuters World was also found to be inaccessible in India as of 11:40 PM. However, several other affiliated handles — including Reuters Tech News, Reuters Fact Check, Reuters Pictures, Reuters Asia, and Reuters China — continue to function normally in the country.
As of now, no official statement has been issued either by Reuters or by X regarding the exact reason for the block. According to X’s own guidelines, accounts or posts can be withheld in a specific region if the company receives a valid legal request, such as a court order or a directive from local authorities. The guidelines specify that such actions are typically taken in compliance with local laws.
It is currently unclear whether the block is linked to a particular report, legal dispute, or government order. It is also not known whether the restriction is temporary or permanent.
The development has already triggered reactions on social media, with users questioning the basis of the move and waiting for more clarity.
