Multiple X accounts, which used to criticize the government have been blocked in India. These include parody and activist accounts. The government used Section 69A of the IT Act to block them. Congress leaders say this is censorship.
New Delhi: The Indian government has blocked several X (formerly Twitter) accounts under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Users trying to see these accounts now see a message. It says: “Account withheld in India in response to a demand.” People outside India can still see the content.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate talked about this issue. She said blocking accounts is a way to stop people from speaking out. She accused the government of being afraid to talk to critics.
What exactly happened?
On March 18 2026 many X users got notifications. Authorities, including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, blocked these accounts for users in India.
https://twitter.com/SupriyaShrinate/status/2034523445581824279?s=20
Some blocked accounts include @Nehr_who, @DrNimoYadav, @indian_armada, @DuckKiBaat @mrjethwani_, @Doc_RGM and @ActivistSandeep.
X follows these orders to obey law.. X has said it does not like broad blocks that limit free speech.
Understanding Section 69A of the IT Act
Section 69A lets the government tell media platforms to block content. This can be done if the content threatens:
- The sovereignty or integrity of India
- Defence of India
- Security of the state
- Friendly relations with states
- Public order
- Prevention of incitement to cognizable offences
The government must write down its reasons.. These reasons are often kept secret.
Critics say this section is used not against threats like misinformation. Moreover, authorities also use it against satire, dissent, and even jokes about leaders.
Broader Context
The opposition strongly condemns this move. Supriya Shrinate called it a ” attack” on freedom of expression. Internet freedom groups say this is a pattern of targeting content.
The government has not made a statement. In the past authorities said such orders were needed to protect order or national interests.
This episode is part of a trend. Section 69A has been used to block thousands of URLs, posts and accounts.
Implications, for Digital Freedom
The blocking of accounts has sparked debates. Some people think these measures are needed for security. Others think they limit speech. As more users turn to VPNs to bypass restrictions questions remain about transparency and due process. The situation continues to evolve.
