Sat May 10 10:56:27 UTC 2025: ## Indian News Website The Wire Unblocked After Censorship Controversy
**NEW DELHI, May 10, 2025** – The Indian news website The Wire was briefly blocked by the government on Saturday, following an order to remove an article based on a CNN report. The website was unblocked shortly after contacting the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and contesting the censorship.
The MIB’s action prompted immediate condemnation from several journalistic organizations, including the Press Club of India, DIGIPUB Foundation, and the Editors’ Guild of India. The Wire’s founding editor, Siddharth Varadarajan, criticized the government’s procedure, stating that the MIB failed to issue a notice or allow The Wire to present its case before an inter-departmental committee before resorting to blocking the entire website.
Varadarajan pointed out that the information in the article, which The Wire subsequently removed, had been available on CNN for over 12 hours prior to publication. He questioned the urgency of the government’s action, given the information’s prior availability and the lack of prior notice.
While the MIB issued unblocking orders, The Wire reported that some users continued to experience access issues hours later. The Wire intends to challenge the government’s decision. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about press freedom and censorship in India.
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