India has blocked access to the X (formerly Twitter) account of TRT World, a Turkish state-run international news outlet, citing concerns over the platform spreading misinformation and propaganda that could threaten India’s national interests. Users attempting to view TRT World’s profile from India are now greeted with the message: “Account Withheld. This account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand.”
This move follows a series of escalating tensions in the region, particularly after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. In response, India launched a retaliatory military operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
On May 8, X confirmed it had received executive orders from the Indian government to block over 8,000 accounts from being accessed within Indian territory. These directives were issued under the Information Technology Act, and failure to comply could have resulted in financial penalties and legal consequences for X’s Indian staff. The blocked accounts reportedly include those operated by international media outlets, government-backed agencies, and prominent individuals.
X’s Global Government Affairs team acknowledged the receipt of these legal orders and stated that the company complied, although it expressed concerns about the implications for freedom of expression.
Though Indian authorities have not released an official list of all blocked accounts, several high-profile handles have been restricted, including TRT World, Chinese state-affiliated media such as Global Times and Xinhua, and various Pakistani political figures.
The restriction on TRT World also aligns with a growing wave of public sentiment in India calling for a boycott of Turkish products and services. This follows revelations that Pakistan used Turkish-origin Songar drones during its attempted attacks on Indian targets.
TRT World has long faced scrutiny from Indian officials, who accuse the outlet of consistently publishing content sympathetic to separatist movements and portraying India’s domestic and foreign policies in a negative light.
