By Ghazala Ahmad
Three days after Molitics India was banned, the official Instagram account of Journo Mirror, another independent digital news outlet, has been banned in India.
Journo Mirror Pvt. Ltd. said a message displayed when users attempted to access the account indicated that its availability had been temporarily restricted in India, citing legal requirements under the country’s Information Technology Rules.
The development comes amid ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, which Journo Mirror said it had been consistently covering, along with related developments.
Journo Mirror’s Instagram account had around 5 lakh followers and recorded 37.8 million views in the preceding 30 days. The restriction, the outlet said, would significantly affect the reach of its journalism and limit public access to its reporting.
“Restricting access to a news platform is not merely a matter concerning a single digital account. It affects the ability of millions of readers and viewers to access news and information,” the statement said.
Journo Mirror said it had prioritised reporting on marginalised communities, disadvantaged sections of society, human rights and matters of public interest. It added that journalism had a responsibility to question those in power, bring facts before the public and provide a platform for voices often underrepresented in mainstream media.
Describing the restriction as an attack on freedom of expression and independent journalism, the outlet reiterated its commitment to public-interest reporting and democratic values.
“Despite the restriction on our Instagram account, we remain committed to continuing our journalistic work and delivering news to our readers and viewers through available platforms,” the statement said.
The circumstances surrounding the restriction, including the specific legal order or provision invoked, were not detailed in the statement. The company did not identify the authority responsible for the action or provide further details about any legal challenge.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.
