Manny Ita –
Headline
Norwegian Journalist Claims Meta Suspended Her Accounts After Press Freedom Confrontation With Modi
Paraphrase
A Norwegian journalist has alleged that her Instagram and Facebook accounts were suspended shortly after she publicly questioned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on press freedom during his visit to Oslo.
Helle Lyng, a reporter with Dagsavisen, said she was locked out of both Meta-owned platforms following the widespread attention her exchange with Mr Modi and Indian officials received online. She made the claim on X, stating that she had been unable to access her accounts and would now be delayed in responding to messages, while also tagging Meta for clarification.
The incident reportedly began during a joint appearance in Oslo involving Mr Modi and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, where no questions were taken from journalists. As the leaders exited, Lyng called out to Mr Modi, questioning why he would not engage with what she described as “the freest press in the world,” though he did not respond.
The exchange quickly went viral and sparked debate, particularly in India, over press freedom and Modi’s limited interaction with journalists in formal press settings. The Indian leader has not held a full press conference since taking office in 2014.
Lyng later defended her actions, saying confrontational journalism sometimes requires pressing leaders directly for answers. She also pointed to global press freedom rankings, noting Norway’s top position compared to India’s lower ranking.
The situation escalated further during a later briefing with Indian diplomats in Oslo, where she questioned officials on human rights and press freedom concerns. Senior diplomat Sibi George rejected the criticism, defending India’s democratic system and constitutional rights, while also dismissing some international reports as uninformed.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi later weighed in, criticising Modi and suggesting the incident reflected poorly on India’s global image.
Meta has not publicly commented on the alleged suspensions or provided reasons for the account restrictions, while Lyng says she is still trying to determine why her accounts were disabled.
