Elon Musk’s X Claims Indian Govt Gave ‘Executive Orders’ To Withhold Accounts

Tesla CEO Elon Musk Postpones Trip To India

SUMMARY

The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties such as significant fines and imprisonment

However, in a post, X’s team has stated its disagreement with these actions, emphasising that the posts should not be withheld on the grounds of freedom of expression

The government has not yet responded to the company's allegations

Elon Musk’s X (erstwhile Twitter) has claimed that the Indian government issued “executive orders” asking the microblogging site to take action against specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties such as significant fines and imprisonment.

The government has not yet responded to the company’s allegations.

In a post, X’s Global Government Affairs team however said that although it would suspend those accounts and posts “in India alone”, it disagrees with these actions and that the posts should not be withheld on grounds of freedom of expression.

NDTV was the first to report this development.

“Consistent with our position, a writ appeal challenging the Indian government’s blocking orders remains pending. We have also provided the impacted users with notice of these actions in accordance with our policies,” the post added.

The development comes at a time when Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider, Starlink is set to begin offering services in India after a prolonged wait of over three years. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is in the process of granting Starlink the license to operate satellite broadband services in the country.