India’s demand to block accounts amid farmers’ stir curtails free speech: X
Al Jazeera
Platform takes down certain accounts and posts following the government order, adding that it disagrees with the action.
Social media platform X says it has taken down certain accounts and posts following an order by the Indian government, which local media reports say are linked to ongoing protests by farmers demanding higher prices for crops.
The platform, formerly known as Twitter, did not provide details of the removals but on Thursday said it disagrees with the action and that the move amounts to curtailing freedom of expression.
The action puts the spotlight again on the struggles faced by foreign technology giants operating in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which has often criticised Google, Facebook and X for not doing enough to tackle what it calls fake or “anti-India” content.
Many users have complained their social media accounts are either blocked or face restrictions in India.
X said its position on the matter was consistent with its ongoing legal challenge against the Indian government’s orders to block content.
