📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Arjunaraoc
Crime
Andhra Pradesh Police Impersonate FBI to Press X for Tweet Deletion
✍️ wionews.com
🗓 19 Sep 2026, 05:45 AM
👁 12
The Andhra Pradesh police reportedly pretended to be FBI agents to persuade the social‑media platform X to remove certain posts.
Police officials in Andhra Pradesh are said to have contacted the social‑media platform X, claiming to be representatives of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. The alleged impersonation was intended to pressure X into deleting specific tweets that the authorities deemed problematic.
According to the report, the police used official‑sounding emails and communication channels that mimicked FBI correspondence. X’s moderation team was reportedly asked to act quickly, citing national security concerns, although no formal legal request was presented.
The incident raises questions about the use of deceptive tactics by law‑enforcement agencies and the protocols X follows for content removal. Authorities have not commented publicly on the matter, and X has not confirmed whether it complied with the request.
Experts warn that such impersonation could undermine trust between platforms and legitimate investigative bodies, urging clearer guidelines to prevent misuse of agency identities in digital investigations.
According to the report, the police used official‑sounding emails and communication channels that mimicked FBI correspondence. X’s moderation team was reportedly asked to act quickly, citing national security concerns, although no formal legal request was presented.
The incident raises questions about the use of deceptive tactics by law‑enforcement agencies and the protocols X follows for content removal. Authorities have not commented publicly on the matter, and X has not confirmed whether it complied with the request.
Experts warn that such impersonation could undermine trust between platforms and legitimate investigative bodies, urging clearer guidelines to prevent misuse of agency identities in digital investigations.