The Wire Reports Website Access Blocked Following Government Directive

The day following Pakistan's premeditated and carefully coordinated aerial strike on Indian towns along its extensive western border, the left-wing publication The Wire asserted that the Indian government had blocked access to its platform throughout the country.

“In a clear violation of the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press, the Government of India has blocked access to thewire.in across India. Internet Service Providers say The Wire has been “blocked as per the order of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the IT Act, 2000,” according to the portal’s statement.

Image: OpIndia

Although The Wire claims the Indian government has blocked access to its platform, many users have reported that the website is still accessible. This highlights the publication's recurring strategy of portraying itself as a victim to apply pressure and influence policy changes.

India Imposes Ban on All Pakistan-Origin OTT Content Over National Security Concerns

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has implemented a significant measure, prohibiting all content produced in Pakistan—including web series, films, podcasts, and songs—from being streamed on OTT platforms and media services within India. This directive, effective from May 8, was issued in the interest of national security, according to the Ministry.

This move comes in response to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. The Ministry's decision, seen as a firm stance, coincides with the planned release of the Pakistani film Abir Gulaal, which features actor Fawad Khan, just one day before its Indian debut.

This action is part of a broader strategy. Recently, the Indian government took steps to curb Pakistan's digital presence by blocking nearly 16 YouTube channels and several Instagram accounts, including those of Pakistani celebrities like Hania Aamir and Mahira Khan. The government also announced a suspension of collaborations with Pakistani artists.

This latest decision adds to a series of measures taken by India, including the termination of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty and the closure of its airspace to Pakistani airlines, all amid increasing diplomatic tensions.

India Blocks 8,000 X (Twitter) Accounts

The action follows the announcement from the Global Government Affairs handle of X (formerly Twitter) the previous day, which revealed that the Indian government had instructed the platform to block access to multiple user accounts and news outlets amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. This included the X accounts of Maktoob Media, The Kashmiriyat, and Free Press Kashmir.

The tensions between the two nations escalated after the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly tourists. In retaliation, India launched cross-border strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terrorist camps in Pakistan.

The Indian Army stated on Friday morning that drone attacks originating from Pakistan were successfully repelled and a strong response was given to ceasefire violations. The Pakistani army also carried out several ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

The blocked accounts include those of prominent international news outlets and well-known figures. X noted that in many cases, the Indian government did not specify which posts from these accounts violated Indian laws. Furthermore, for many of the blocked accounts, no justification or evidence was provided.

“To follow the orders, we are blocking these accounts in India only. We have started doing this now. But we do not agree with the government’s demands,” X said.

X stated that, while it faced a tough decision, it ultimately chose to comply with the directive in order to continue operating its platform in India. “It’s important for people in India to keep having access to information,” the company said.

(Source: Mint, OpIndia)