New Delhi: The main X (formerly Twitter) account of global news agency Reuters, (@Reuters), appeared to have been withheld in India on Friday, July 4, sparking concern and speculation across digital media circles. Users attempting to access the handle were met with a message saying the account "has been withheld in response to a legal demand."
As of 11:30 pm IST, the account remained inaccessible in India, although it continued to be visible to users outside the country. The specific legal grounds or the nature of the demand leading to the block have not been disclosed yet.
Reuters Website Still Accessible
Despite the restriction on the social media platform, Reuters’ main website remains fully accessible in India. Additionally, several affiliated X handles, including those for Reuters Tech News, Reuters Fact Check, Reuters Pictures, Reuters Asia, and Reuters China, have not been affected and continue to be available in the country.
The move appears to be region-specific and isolated to the main Reuters X account. There is no indication of a broader crackdown on Reuters content at this time.
Response Awaited from Authorities and Reuters
Neither Reuters nor Indian government authorities have issued an official statement on the development so far.
The withholding message seen on X typically appears when access is restricted based on local legal requests, but the lack of transparency around the trigger has raised questions.
