X takes down accounts that media say are linked to Indian farmer protests
Social media platform X said it took down certain accounts and posts by order of the Indian government, which local media say are linked to protests by farmers.
NEW DELHI — Social media platform X said on Thursday it took 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 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 criticized Google, Facebook and Twitter for not doing enough to tackle what it calls fake or “anti-India” content.
X said its position on the matter was consistent with its ongoing legal challenge against the Indian government’s content blocking orders.
“We will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however, we disagree with these actions and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts,” X’s Global Government Affairs said in a post, without naming the accounts.
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