In response to executive orders from the Indian government, X (formerly Twitter), under the ownership of billionaire Elon Musk, has confirmed its compliance. These orders demanded the suspension of specific accounts and posts allegedly associated with the farmers’ Delhi Chalo protest.
Expressing disagreement with the directives, X emphasized its commitment to freedom of expression. The social media giant stated, “The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment.”
While complying with the orders by withholding accounts and posts in India, X maintained its stance on freedom of expression. The Global Government Affairs account of X revealed that a writ appeal challenging the Indian government’s blocking orders is pending.
Notably, legal restrictions prevent X from publishing the executive orders. However, the company stressed the importance of transparency, suggesting that making them public is crucial to ensure accountability and prevent arbitrary decision-making.
These developments followed emergency orders from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), directing top social media companies to block 177 accounts and links related to the farmers’ protest to maintain ‘public order’. Issued at the behest of the Ministry of Home Affairs, these orders are conditional and valid until the duration of the protest. Afterward, social media companies may restore the accounts and channels affected.
