A discussion surrounding press freedom and social media moderation has drawn international attention after Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng claimed that her Meta-owned social media accounts were suspended following a media interaction involving Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Oslo.

The incident took place during a joint media appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, where Lyng questioned Modi regarding interactions with the press. A video from the event later circulated widely on social media platforms.

According to posts shared by Lyng on X, both her Instagram and Facebook accounts were suspended on May 19. She stated that Meta informed her she had 180 days to appeal the decision.

“If you’re trying to reach me on Instagram or Facebook, I would like to let you know I have been suspended from both accounts,” Lyng wrote on X. She also stated that she had hoped to respond to messages and comments she received online following the interaction.

Meta has not publicly clarified the reason behind the suspension, and no official connection has been confirmed between the suspension and the journalist’s remarks during the media event.

The matter later came up during an official media briefing by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Secretary (West) Sibi George responded to questions regarding India’s democratic framework and constitutional protections.

Lyng later posted online that she was “not a spy” and emphasized that journalism often involves difficult or direct questioning of political leaders. She described the suspension of her accounts as “a small price to pay for press freedom.”

The incident has since become the subject of wider online discussions involving media freedom, social media moderation policies, and interactions between journalists and political leaders during international visits.