Journalist's Facebook Account 'Suspended' After Questioning Modi and Indian Ministry of External Affairs

In Oslo, a video related to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Norway and the subsequent events have triggered a new international debate on press freedom and social media's role. During a joint press conference held in Oslo as part of a united journalist conference, journalist Helge Lønning reportedly questioned Prime Minister Modi, leading to allegations that his Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp accounts were suspended. The video of the incident, where Lønning raised concerns about not being able to ask questions to the most independent press journalists in the world, went viral on social media. Following the viral video, Lønning claimed that his Instagram and Facebook accounts were suspended through social media, rendering him unable to view messages or respond. Screen recordings shared on social media allegedly showed his Instagram account being suspended, with a warning that it could be permanently closed within 180 days if no appeal is made, although no official reasons have been made public regarding this matter. Meanwhile, the controversy reached the regular journalist conference of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs where Lønning asked the Secretary (West) Sibi George how India can be trusted and how concerns about human rights are addressed. In response, George highlighted India's constitution, democratic structure, and the availability of legal and constitutional remedies for citizens if their rights are violated. This exchange has sparked widespread debate on social media, with one side expressing support for the journalist for raising important questions about press freedom, while the other side criticizes the style of questioning and the political context. Lønning clarified that he has no affiliation with any foreign government or intelligence agency and denied being a foreign spy, emphasizing his responsibility as a person actively working in journalism.