X blocks 8,000 accounts in India following government orders

On Thursday, the social media platform X announced that it has begun blocking 8,000 accounts in India, following executive orders from the government. In a statement shared on X's Global Government Affairs account, the platform revealed that it was compelled by the Indian government to take this action, which comes with potential penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment for the company's local staff. The orders require the blocking of accounts belonging to international news organisations and high-profile X users. In many instances, the Indian government has not clarified which specific posts have breached local laws. For a considerable number of accounts, X has indicated that it has not received any evidence or justification for the blocking.

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