More than 8,000 x blocked accounts, censored Instagram pages or YouTube channels forbidden for access. The conflict between India and Pakistan also affects online. Social networks are an important information vector, its control is a priority for the two countries.
India has been remarkably uncompromising. On several platforms, the country has ordered thousands of personalities or international media accounts according to AFP.
Thousands of censored x accounts
Social networks have become the nerve of war. A situation that puts difficulty for platform managers sometimes forced themselves to abdicate against government pressures. This is the case of X that, at the request of the Indian government, had to block almost “8,000 accounts” in the social network.
The platform was offended by the decision, contrary to the freedom of expression it defends, but was forced to comply with the threats. In a publication, the X Department of International Affairs evokes possible “fines and imprisonment” aimed at its headquarters in India.
India fears that these accounts can contradict the account of the Indian government as part of this conflict. These censures are effective only in India. “This decision is not easy to take, but it is essential that the platform remain accessible in India so that the Indians can access the information,” X adds in its publication.
“Account not available in India”
Other social networks such as Instagram have paid the price for this mass censorship. The Instagram account @Muslim, Muslim international media of more than 6.7 million subscribers, is another victim of this campaign. On their Instagram page, the media seem to be “not available” for its Indian users.
Several Pakistani celebrities accounts are subject to the same destination according to AFP. Cricket’s politicians, actors and players (very famous sport in southern Asia) have their account blocked in India. The YouTube platform is not exempt since around fifteen channels have been prohibited by “provocative content.”
A digital war
In the heart of tensions, the Cashmiro region, a territory divided into two since one part belongs to India, the other in Pakistan. He is subject to numerous conflicts since the two countries wish to claim it in their entirety since 1947. On April 22, 2025, an attack of activists left 26 dead in the Indian part of Cashmere, reviving these tensions. India accuses a Pakistani movement of being at the origin of this law.
Since then, the crisis in the region has experienced a climb. Several missile shots took place on both sides killing about fifty people. After negotiations, a fire has been implemented since May 10 between the two countries.
But this war is also a war of information. The two countries warn their population against massive piracy campaigns led by their opponent.
The Censorship campaign in X perpetrated by India coincides with the rehabilitation of X in Pakistan after 15 months of prohibition. However, we do not know the real reasons for this decision at this time.
But as soon as this restriction was built, the social network served as a relief of misinformation in Pakistan. In a video posted on X May 8, 2025, video game images Weapon 3 They were diverted to the official Pakistani government account to illustrate the current conflict with India. In the RSF classification about press freedom, India occupies the 151st and 158th countries in 180 countries, these populations are strongly exposed to misinformation.
Source: BFM TV
