TL;DR
- X has blocked access to the official Reuters and Reuters World accounts for users in India.
- A message states the accounts “have been withheld in IN (India) in response to a legal demand,” but no Indian government agency has confirmed such a request.
- Reuters is actively working with X to resolve the issue.
- X (formerly Twitter) has a history of legal disputes with the Indian government over censorship and content moderation demands.
- Previously, X sued the Indian government, alleging unlawful censorship enabled by a government website allowing officials to block content without oversight.
Reuters Accounts Blocked in India
Since Saturday evening, Indian users attempting to view the official Reuters account, which boasts over 25 million followers, are met with a message stating the account has been withheld due to a legal demand. The same applies to the Reuters World account.
Despite the notice, an official spokesperson from the Indian government told Reuters there has been no such legal demand from any agency.
Reuters and X’s Response
A Reuters spokesperson confirmed the news agency is “working with X to resolve this matter.” Reuters also disclosed their social media team received a notice from X in May about content being withheld at the Indian government’s request, though specifics were not provided.
Background: X’s Legal Battles Over Content Moderation
The platform X, formerly known as Twitter and now merged with Elon Musk’s xAI, has been openly critical of the Indian government’s demands to block certain accounts and posts. In March 2025, X sued the Indian government, arguing that a newly launched government website permits “unrestrained censorship of information in India,” enabling numerous officials to remove content or block accounts without proper legal process.
The government maintained the website’s purpose is limited to notifying companies about harmful online content.
Global Context: Previous Legal Conflicts
X has faced similar legal disputes elsewhere. Last year, a prolonged confrontation with Brazil’s Supreme Court led to the service halting operations and being banned in the country for over a month.
Summary of X’s Legal Issues with Governments
| Country | Issue | Outcome / Status | Year |
| India | Content/account blocking | Reuters accounts withheld; ongoing dispute | 2025 |
| Brazil | Court order bans and shutdown | Service banned >1 month, then resumed | 2024 |
| United States | Various content moderation controversies | Ongoing debates and lawsuits | Ongoing |
