{{Short description|Indian nonprofit news website}} {{italic title}} {{protection padlock|small=yes}} {{use Indian English|date=July 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox website | name = ''The Wire'' | logo = Wirelogo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert | url = {{official URL}} | commercial = No | type = Journalism, news, analysis | language = | owner = Foundation for Independent Journalism (FIJ) | Report = | editor = {{ubl|Siddharth Varadarajan|Sidharth Bhatia|M. K. Venu|Seema Chishti}} | launched = {{start date and age|df=y|2015|05|11}} | location = First floor, 13 Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Gole Market, Delhi 110001, India }}
'''''The Wire''''' is an Indian nonprofit news and opinion website.<ref name="cjr.org_Winter2016"/> It was founded in 2015 by Siddharth Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia, and M. K. Venu.<ref>{{Cite news|title=About Us|language=en-GB|website=The Wire|url=https://thewire.in/about-us/|access-date=4 July 2017|archive-date=14 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014213752/https://thewire.in/about-us|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="business-standard-02Nov15">{{Cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/online-portals-seek-a-new-face-of-journalism-115110201472_1.html |title=Online portals seek a new face of journalism |last=Kohli-Khandekar |first=Vanita |date=2 November 2015 |work=Business Standard India |access-date=4 July 2017 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122133531/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/online-portals-seek-a-new-face-of-journalism-115110201472_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It counts among the news outlets that are independent of the Indian government,<ref name="cjr.org_Winter2016" /> and has been subject to several defamation suits by state governments, businessmen, politicians and multinational companies.
Its reporting of disinformation in the Meta-Tek Fog fiasco caused it to face scrutiny and backlash until it released a formal apology and admitted to having published the story without verification.
==History== The Wire was founded by Siddharth Varadarajan, after he was removed from his job as editor at ''The Hindu''.<ref name="livemint-08May15"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chaudhry |first=Lakshmi |title=Can the digital revolution save Indian journalism? |url=https://www.cjr.org/special_report/india_digital_revolution_startups_scoopwhoop_wire_times.php/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Columbia Journalism Review |language=en |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806032523/https://www.cjr.org/special_report/india_digital_revolution_startups_scoopwhoop_wire_times.php |url-status=live }}</ref> It began operating on 11 May 2015; Varadarajan worked with Sidharth Bhatia and M. K. Venu who had initially funded the website. Later it was made part of the Foundation for Independent Journalism, a non-profit.<ref name="business-standard-02Nov15" /> The Independent and Public Spirited Media Foundation has provided ''The Wire'' with funding as well.<ref name="business-standard-02Nov15"/>
Varadarajan claims that the publication was created as a "platform for independent journalism",<ref name="livemint-08May15">{{Cite news |url=http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/hh3F4srDSuGG7aQaQWqckL/Former-editor-of-The-Hindu-to-launch-news-website.html |title=Former editor of 'The Hindu' to launch news website |last=Choudhary |first=Vidhi |date=8 May 2015 |work=Livemint |access-date=5 July 2017 |archive-date=7 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607052050/http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/hh3F4srDSuGG7aQaQWqckL/Former-editor-of-The-Hindu-to-launch-news-website.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and that its non-corporate structure and funding sources aim to free it from the "commercial and political pressures" which supposedly afflict mainstream Indian news outlets.<ref name="livemint-08May15" /><ref name="cjr.org_Winter2016">{{Cite news |url=https://www.cjr.org/special_report/india_digital_revolution_startups_scoopwhoop_wire_times.php |title=Can the digital revolution save Indian journalism? |work=Columbia Journalism Review |issue=Fall/Winter 2016 |first1=Lakshmi |last1=Chaudhry |access-date=5 July 2017 |language=en |archive-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607124936/https://www.cjr.org/special_report/india_digital_revolution_startups_scoopwhoop_wire_times.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/jay-shah-files-criminal-defamation-case-against-the-wire/articleshow/61009272.cms |title=Jay Shah files criminal defamation case against 'The Wire' |date=9 October 2017 |newspaper=The Economic Times |access-date=15 October 2017 |archive-date=12 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012184309/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/jay-shah-files-criminal-defamation-case-against-the-wire/articleshow/61009272.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Wire''{{'}}s founding is construed to be a result of and a reaction to a political environment which has "discouraged dissent" against the present Indian ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.<ref name="cjr.org_Winter2016" />
According to one of the founding editors, the founders' basic value is to stand for the right of the individual against the normally overbearing nature of the State. He further added that the founders are socially and economically liberal in their approach.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Girija |first=Sreekala |date=2020-03-01 |title=Political Economy of Media Entrepreneurship: Power, Control and Ideology in a News Media Enterprise |url=https://journals.aau.dk/index.php/NJMM/article/view/3651 |journal=Nordic Journal of Media Management |language=en |volume=1 |issue=1 |page=88 |doi=10.5278/njmm.2597-0445.3651 |issn=2597-0445 |archive-date=1 March 2024 |access-date=1 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301172121/https://journals.aau.dk/index.php/NJMM/article/view/3651 |url-status=live }}</ref> Varadarajan said in an interview that he (and by extension ''The Wire'', as asked in question) in all matters of journalism is guided by the Constitution of India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Venkatesh |first=H. R. |date=2020-11-25 |title=What about Scroll, The Quint, The Wire and The News Minute? {{!}} BOOM |url=https://www.boomlive.in/mediabuddhi/what-about-scroll-the-quint-the-wire-and-the-news-minute-10806 |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=www.boomlive.in |language=en |archive-date=27 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227142641/https://www.boomlive.in/mediabuddhi/what-about-scroll-the-quint-the-wire-and-the-news-minute-10806 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2020, ''The Wire'' joined Progressive International's ''Wire''— a coalition of progressive media outlets from around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wire |url=https://progressive.international/members/27530011-289b-4571-a756-fe6da5113418-the-wire/en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605143015/https://progressive.international/members/27530011-289b-4571-a756-fe6da5113418-the-wire/en/ |archive-date=2020-06-05 |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Progressive International |language=en}}</ref>
== Content == According to a 2017 article of the ''Mint'', the websites coverage primarily focused on the topics of development, foreign policy, political economy, politics and science.<ref name="livemint-08May15" /> Karan Thapar's regular show ''The Interview with Karan Thapar'' covers current affairs and events on ''The Wire''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Exclusive News Stories by Karan Thapar on Current Affairs, Events at The Wire |url=https://thewire.in/author/karan-thapar |access-date=19 December 2021 |work=The Wire |archive-date=19 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219173619/https://thewire.in/author/karan-thapar |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Reception == Dheeraj Mishra, Seemi Pasha Win Ramnath Goenka Awards for 2019 Reports for 'The Wire'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dheeraj Mishra, Seemi Pasha Win Ramnath Goenka Awards for 2019 Reports for 'The Wire' |url=https://thewire.in/media/dheeraj-mishra-seemi-pasha-win-ramnath-goenka-awards-for-2019-reports-for-the-wire |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=The Wire |archive-date=23 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323063325/https://thewire.in/media/dheeraj-mishra-seemi-pasha-win-ramnath-goenka-awards-for-2019-reports-for-the-wire |url-status=live }}</ref> Three journalists working for ''The Wire'', have won the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards.<ref name="RNG 2017">{{Cite web |url=https://rngfoundation.com/awards/pastawards/2017.html |title=Awards 2017 |work=Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, Ramnath Goenka Memorial Foundation |access-date=16 November 2019 |archive-date=16 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116061953/https://rngfoundation.com/awards/pastawards/2017.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RNG 2016">{{Cite web |url=https://rngfoundation.com/awards/pastawards/2016.html |title=Awards 2016 |work=Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, Ramnath Goenka Memorial Foundation |access-date=16 November 2019 |archive-date=16 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116061954/https://rngfoundation.com/awards/pastawards/2016.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Neha Dixit, reporting on extrajudicial killings and illegal detentions, won the CPJ International Press Freedom Award in 2017, Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Women Mediapersons in 2016, and the Lorenzo Natali Journalism Prize.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.icfj.org/about/profiles/neha-dixit |title=Neha Dixit |website=International Center for Journalists |language=en |access-date=21 November 2019 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809082616/https://www.icfj.org/about/profiles/neha-dixit |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CPJ 2019">{{Cite web |url=https://cpj.org/awards/2019/neha-dixit-india.php |title=Neha Dixit, India. International Press Freedom Awards |work=Committee to Protect Journalists |language=en |date=2019 |access-date=21 November 2019 |archive-date=24 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191124045527/https://cpj.org/awards/2019/neha-dixit-india.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumari |first=Jyoti |date=2024-08-07 |title=A decade in the making, Neha Dixit's book illuminates India's invisible female workers |url=https://www.vogue.in/content/neha-dixit-debut-book-the-many-lives-of-syeda-x-invisible-female-workers |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=Vogue India |language=en-IN}}</ref> A story published in the ''Columbia Journalism Review'' in late 2016 identified ''The Wire'' as one of several independent and recently founded internet-based media platforms-a group that also included ''Newslaundry'', Scroll.in, ''The News Minute'', ''The Quint'' and ScoopWhoop-that were attempting to challenge the dominance of India's traditional print and television news companies and their online offshoots.<ref name="cjr.org_Winter2016" />
Siddharth Vardarajan was awarded with the Shorenstein Prize in 2017; jury member of the award Nayan Chanda mentioned Vardarajan's independent web-based journalism-venture and distinguished body of well-researched reports to be an epitome of journalistic excellence and innovation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/the-wires-siddharth-varadarajan-wins-shorenstein-journalism-award/310854 |title=The Wire's Siddharth Varadarajan wins Shorenstein Journalism Award |website=Outlook |date=11 April 2018 |access-date=16 November 2019 |archive-date=16 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116063741/https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/the-wires-siddharth-varadarajan-wins-shorenstein-journalism-award/310854 |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2019, The Network of Women in Media, India criticised ''The Wire'' for providing a platform to Vinod Dua for making fun of an allegation of sexual harassment against him.<ref name="MeToo">Sites covering this episodes are:
*{{Cite web |url=http://www.nwmindia.org/about-us/statements/the-wire-must-desist-from-providing-a-platform-for-those-accused-of-sexual-harassment |title=The Wire must desist from providing a platform for those accused of sexual harassment |work=Network of Women in Media, India(NWMI) |language=en-GB |date=19 October 2018 |access-date=16 November 2019 |archive-date=16 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116034742/http://www.nwmindia.org/about-us/statements/the-wire-must-desist-from-providing-a-platform-for-those-accused-of-sexual-harassment |url-status=live }} *{{Cite news |url=https://thewire.in/women/nwmi-statement-vinod-dua-metoo-episode |title=Women Journalists' Body Rebukes The Wire For Vinod Dua's Programme |work=The Wire (India) |date=20 October 2018 |access-date=16 November 2019 |archive-date=16 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116034737/https://thewire.in/women/nwmi-statement-vinod-dua-metoo-episode |url-status=live }} *{{Cite news |url=https://scroll.in/latest/898897/women-journalists-group-criticises-the-wire-for-providing-platform-to-vinod-dua-to-mock-metoo |title=Women journalists' group criticises 'The Wire' for providing platform to Vinod Dua to mock #MeToo |work=Scroll.in |language=en |date=19 October 2018 |access-date=16 November 2019 |archive-date=12 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812000735/https://scroll.in/latest/898897/women-journalists-group-criticises-the-wire-for-providing-platform-to-vinod-dua-to-mock-metoo |url-status=live }}</ref> A December 2019 article by Dexter Filkins of ''The New Yorker'', noted that ''The Wire'' is one of the few small outfits and the most prominent (other than ''The Caravan''), to have engaged in providing aggressive coverage of the current Indian Govt ruled by BJP at a time when mainstream media is failing to do so.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Filkins |first=Dexter |date=2 December 2019 |title=Blood and Soil in Narendra Modi's India |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/12/09/blood-and-soil-in-narendra-modis-india |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X |access-date=3 December 2019 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422170919/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/12/09/blood-and-soil-in-narendra-modis-india |url-status=live }}</ref>
In September 2021, ''The Wire'' received the 2021 Free Media Pioneer Award given by the International Press Institute for being 'an unflinching defender of independent, high-quality journalism'.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://ipi.media/indian-news-site-the-wire-to-receive-2021-free-media-pioneer-award/ |title=Indian news site The Wire to receive 2021 Free Media Pioneer award |work=IPI |language=en |date=1 September 2021 |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907182240/https://ipi.media/indian-news-site-the-wire-to-receive-2021-free-media-pioneer-award/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
An Investigative Report Published on The Wire Wins Laadli Media Awards 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=An Investigative Report Published on The Wire Wins Laadli Media Awards 2025 |url=https://thewire.in/media/an-investigative-report-published-on-the-wire-wins-laadli-media-awards-2025 |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref>
=== Meta/XCheck controversy === {{Main|Tek Fog}} On 10 October 2022, ''The Wire'' alleged Meta (formerly Facebook) provided Amit Malviya, the head of the Information Technology Cell of the incumbent ruling party in India, with the ability to delete any post on Instagram bypassing the usual content moderation system.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2022-10-17 |title=Everything you need to know about The Wire's retracted reporting on Meta |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/17/23407790/facebook-india-meta-the-wire-instagram-controversy |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=The Verge |language=en-US |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027092138/https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/17/23407790/facebook-india-meta-the-wire-instagram-controversy |url-status=live }}</ref> The article says Amit Malviya had these privileges since his account had the XCheck<ref>{{cite news |title=Who Does Facebook's VIP 'XCheck' Program Protect in Community Standards Shield? |publisher=Newsweek |location=Wayback Machine |url=https://www.newsweek.com/who-does-facebooks-vip-xcheck-program-protect-community-standards-shield-1629115 |access-date=6 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106184140/https://www.newsweek.com/who-does-facebooks-vip-xcheck-program-protect-community-standards-shield-1629115 |archive-date=6 November 2022}}</ref> tag. Meta categorically denied and called the Wire's reporting "false" and said it was based on "fabricated evidence".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-13 |title=Meta slams Indian media expose on Facebook favouring BJP as 'outlandish' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/facebook-thewire-in-amit-malviya-b2201158.html |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> Later the publication went on to publish a purported "internal message" from Andy Stone, the Communications Director, expressing frustration at the leak of Malviya's privileges. A further detailed report was also published which featured email-communication from two anonymous "experts" verifying the integrity of Stone's email and a semi-redacted video of an in-house moderation tool attesting to Malviya's privileges.<ref name=":1" />
Soon, numerous flaws were spotted in the evidence that pointed to fabrication and skeptics, including former Facebook whistle-blowers, began to cast doubts.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Agrawal |first=Aditi |title=Explained: What's the Wire vs Meta fight all about? |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/10/13/explained-whats-the-wire-vs-meta-fight-all-about |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Newslaundry |date=13 October 2022 |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102172024/https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/10/13/explained-whats-the-wire-vs-meta-fight-all-about |url-status=live }}</ref> Afterwards, as both the anonymous experts denied involvement with ''The Wire'', the reports were subject to an internal review and retracted by ''The Wire''; later the publication conceded its failure to verify the evidence and accused the reporter, Devesh Kumar, of deceit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2022-10-26 |title=The Wire blames retracted Meta story on "deception" by staff member |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/26/23425377/the-wire-subject-deception-member-team-meta-india |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=The Verge |language=en-US |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027092150/https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/26/23425377/the-wire-subject-deception-member-team-meta-india |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Agrawal |first=Aditi |title=Meta vs The Wire vs Devesh Kumar: The story so far |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/10/31/meta-vs-the-wire-vs-devesh-kumar-the-story-so-far |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Newslaundry |date=31 October 2022 |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102172024/https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/10/31/meta-vs-the-wire-vs-devesh-kumar-the-story-so-far |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=N. L. |title=The Wire issues apology, cites 'deception by a member of our Meta investigation team' |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/10/27/the-wire-issues-apology-cites-deception-by-a-member-of-our-meta-investigation-team |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Newslaundry |date=27 October 2022 |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102172023/https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/10/27/the-wire-issues-apology-cites-deception-by-a-member-of-our-meta-investigation-team |url-status=live }}</ref> The developments also brought back focus on the publication's earlier investigative coverage of an app called Tek Fog—supposedly used by the ruling party to spread disinformation and harass dissenters, that Kumar had been responsible for. This story also was removed from the site,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=N. L. |title=Wire-Meta saga: Editors Guild withdraws Tek Fog remarks, Economist points to 3 lessons from 'own-goal' |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/10/28/wire-meta-saga-editors-guild-withdraws-tek-fog-remarks-economist-points-to-3-lessons-from-own-goal |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Newslaundry|date=28 October 2022 }}</ref> and The Wire issued a formal apology, admitting to have rushed the story without having it double checked independently.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wire Editorial: To Our Readers, an Apology and a Promise |url=https://thewire.in/media/the-wire-editorial-to-our-readers-an-apology-and-a-promise |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=The Wire |archive-date=1 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401042849/https://thewire.in/media/the-wire-editorial-to-our-readers-an-apology-and-a-promise |url-status=live }}</ref>
Bloomberg and Editors Guild of India also later retracted their coverage of Tek Fog, which was solely based on ''The Wire''<nowiki/>'s reporting.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pollard |first=Ruth |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Bloomberg Retracts Column on Tek Fog |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/bloomberg-retracts-column-on-tek-fog/2022/10/31/a81bf690-5980-11ed-bc40-b5a130f95ee7_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Tribune News |title=Post Wire apology, Editors Guild retracts statement on Tek Fog, urges due diligence in reporting |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/post-wire-apology-editors-guild-retracts-statement-on-tek-fog-urges-due-diligence-in-reporting-445163 |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102142003/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/post-wire-apology-editors-guild-retracts-statement-on-tek-fog-urges-due-diligence-in-reporting-445163 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Guild in its statement, urged newsrooms 'to resist the temptation of moving fast on sensitive stories, circumventing due journalistic norms.'<ref>{{Cite web |author=Scroll Staff |title=Editors Guild retracts Tek Fog remarks after 'The Wire' takes down its articles |url=https://scroll.in/latest/1036058/editors-guild-removes-references-to-articles-on-tek-fog-after-the-wire-retracts-its-investigation |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=Scroll.in |date=28 October 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113182936/https://scroll.in/latest/1036058/editors-guild-removes-references-to-articles-on-tek-fog-after-the-wire-retracts-its-investigation |url-status=live }}</ref> The Guild also called the lapses by The Wire 'condemnable' in a subsequent statement.<ref>{{Cite news |author=<!--not stated-->|date=2022-11-02 |title=Editors Guild urges police for 'impartial' probe into complaints against The Wire |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/police-searches-at-the-wire-excessive-and-disproportionate-editors-guild/article66085591.ece |access-date=2022-11-23 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=23 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123133549/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/police-searches-at-the-wire-excessive-and-disproportionate-editors-guild/article66085591.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Temporary website access restrictions === ''The Wire'' reported on 9 May 2025 that their website was blocked across India by internet service providers following orders from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the 2000 IT Act, citing violation of press freedom. ''The Wire'' said they would challenge this restriction. Founding editor Siddharth Varadarajan stated that the website was blocked by ISP's in India due to publication of a story which claimed Pakistan had shot down an Indian Rafale during an air skirmish on the night of May 7 to 8, based on an earlier CNN report.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-12 |title=How an Indian news website was blocked by the government amid the conflict with Pakistan {{!}} Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism |url=https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/how-indian-news-website-was-blocked-government-amid-conflict-pakistan |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref> This restriction comes a day after the Indian government requested X (formerly Twitter) to restrict the access of 8,000 accounts following the military conflict between India and Pakistan.<ref name="a154">{{cite news |date=8 May 2025 |title=Over 8,000 X accounts blocked in India; The Wire says will challenge site blocking |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/x-says-it-blocked-8000-accounts-in-india-after-govts-executive-orders/article69554836.ece |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=The Hindu}}</ref><ref name="z686">{{cite news |last=Jeelani |first=Gulam |date=9 May 2025 |title=The Wire says access to the news website blocked after Govt orders |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/the-wire-says-access-to-news-website-blocked-after-govt-orders-11746777005099.html |access-date=9 May 2025 |newspaper=Mint}}</ref> The website was unblocked after they removed the Rafale story, as per claimed by ''The Wire''.<ref>{{Cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=10 May 2025 |title=The Wire says website unblocked after portal removed article |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-wire-says-website-unblocked-after-portal-removed-article/article69560747.ece/ |access-date=10 May 2025 |newspaper=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=10 May 2025 |title=The Wire site unblocked after Union govt forces takedown of story |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/india/the-wire-site-unblocked-after-union-govt-forces-takedown-of-story |access-date=10 May 2025 |work=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=10 May 2025 |title=The Wire site 'unblocked' after takedown of Rafale story, editor calls it attack on press freedom |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/the-wire-unblocked-after-takedown-of-rafale-story-editor-calls-it-attack-on-press-freedom/cid/2098548 |access-date=10 May 2025 |newspaper=The Telegraph}}</ref>
== Litigations ==
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP and venture capitalist Rajeev Chandrasekhar filed a defamation suit in a Bangalore civil court after two articles alleged a conflict of interest between his legislative role and his investments in the media and defence sectors.<ref name="huffingtonpost-08Mar17">{{Cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/03/08/rajeev-chandrasekhar-says-hes-fighting-a-congress-media-conspir_a_21875286/ |title=Rajeev Chandrasekhar Says He's Fighting A Congress-Media Conspiracy |work=Huffington Post India |first=Betwa |last=Sharma |date=8 March 2017 |access-date=5 July 2017 |archive-date=10 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710090111/http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/03/08/rajeev-chandrasekhar-says-hes-fighting-a-congress-media-conspir_a_21875286/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="scroll-07Mar17">{{Cite news |url=https://scroll.in/article/831159/in-highly-unusual-move-bengaluru-court-orders-the-wire-to-remove-articles-on-rajeev-chandrasekhar |title=In highly unusual move, Bengaluru court orders The Wire to remove articles on Rajeev Chandrasekhar |work=Scroll.in |date=7 March 2017 |access-date=5 July 2017 |archive-date=17 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017152832/https://scroll.in/article/831159/in-highly-unusual-move-bengaluru-court-orders-the-wire-to-remove-articles-on-rajeev-chandrasekhar |url-status=live }}</ref> The case was later dismissed, with the court ruling in favour of ''The Wire''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://thewire.in/law/press-is-watchdog-of-constitution-why-court-dismissed-bjp-mps-plea-against-the-wire |title=Why Court Dismissed BJP MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar's Plea Against The Wire |work=The Wire |date=14 March 2019 |access-date=16 November 2019 |archive-date=2 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102082640/https://thewire.in/law/press-is-watchdog-of-constitution-why-court-dismissed-bjp-mps-plea-against-the-wire |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://barandbench.com/bangalore-court-vacates-order-urging-the-wire-to-take-down-articles-on-rajeev-chandrasekhar/ |title=Order urging The Wire to pull articles on Rajeev Chandrasekhar vacated |website=Bar & Bench |date=14 March 2019 |access-date=16 November 2019 }}</ref>
In 2017, Jay Shah, son of then Home Minister Amit Shah, filed a criminal defamation case against ''The Wire'' over an article alleging irregularities in his business dealings.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://thewire.in/business/amit-shah-narendra-modi-jay-shah-bjp |title=The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah |work=The Wire |first=Rohini |last=Singh |date=8 October 2017 |access-date=10 December 2019 |archive-date=14 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214064921/https://thewire.in/business/amit-shah-narendra-modi-jay-shah-bjp |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/jay-shah-files-criminal-defamation-case-against-the-wire/article9895618.ece |title=Jay Shah files criminal defamation case against 'The Wire' |author=PTI |work=The Hindu BusinessLine |date=9 October 2017 |access-date=15 October 2017 |archive-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929051644/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/jay-shah-files-criminal-defamation-case-against-the-wire/article9895618.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> During the COVID-19 pandemic, ''The Wire'' faced action from the Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ghoshal |first=Somak |date=1 July 2020 |title=Open book? In India, journalists are worried about surveillance |journal=Index on Censorship |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=53–55 |doi=10.1177/0306422020935803 }}</ref><ref name="muse2020">{{Cite journal |last=Mukherji |first=Rahul |year=2020 |title=Covid vs. Democracy: India's Illiberal Remedy |journal=Journal of Democracy |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=91–105 |doi=10.1353/jod.2020.0058 |via=Project MUSE }}</ref> In September 2021, the Supreme Court of India granted interim protection from arrest but declined to quash the FIRs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kakkar |first=Shruti |date=8 September 2021 |title=Supreme Court Grants Protection to The Wire Journalists |url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-grants-2-months-protection-to-the-wire-journalists-from-3-up-police-firs-asks-them-to-move-hc-for-quashing-181160 |website=Live Law |access-date=11 October 2021 }}</ref> In February 2022, Bharat Biotech filed a ₹100-crore defamation suit against ''The Wire'' over its coverage of Covaxin.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2022 |title=Court Orders The Wire To Take Down 14 Articles on Bharat Biotech |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/law/court-orders-the-wire-to-take-down-14-articles-on-bharat-biotech-in-rs-100-cr-case |website=The Quint |access-date=24 February 2022 }}</ref>
== See also == * Nonprofit journalism * Tek Fog (Hoax)
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|https://thewire.in}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wire}} Category:2015 establishments in Delhi Category:Indian news websites Category:Publications established in 2015 Category:Organisations based in Delhi