In a significant move that underscores tightening online regulations amid escalating geopolitical tensions, the Indian government has withheld access to the Global Affairs account on X (formerly Twitter). Users attempting to view the account now see a message that reads: “@GlobalAffairs has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand.”

The account now displays a blank screen marked with “Account Withheld” in bold — a stark signal of the deepening scrutiny over content linked to international diplomacy, conflict, and security matters.

This development comes just a day after Elon Musk-owned X revealed that India had requested the blocking of nearly 8,000 accounts on the platform. The social media company said it received legal orders to take down accounts, presumably related to disinformation or national security threats, though further details remain undisclosed.

The timing of the action is significant, as it follows India’s high-profile Operation Sindoor, a military campaign launched early Wednesday targeting terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was a direct retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which intensified cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.