Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen said her Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended after a video of her questioning Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Norway visit drew wide attention online.
“Anyone trying to contact me on Instagram or Facebook should know I was suspended from both accounts,” Helle Lyng Svendsen wrote on X.
“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,” she wrote. “I have wanted to respond to as many Indians as possible, but my responses will now be delayed. I hope I will get my accounts back.”
The reason for the suspension of her account was not immediately clear. There is no confirmed evidence that the suspension was directly linked to her question to Modi.
PM Modi visited Norway, where he met Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo. During a joint press conference, Svendsen asked Modi why he didn’t take questions from “the freest press in the world.”
Modi left the venue without a word. Some reports said it was unclear if he heard the question as he walked away.
The video of the exchange circulated on social media and sparked questions about press access, political accountability, and how world leaders respond to tough questions during official visits.
She later attended a briefing with Indian officials and asked wider questions about press freedom and human rights in India. India is a working democracy with constitutional values and democratic institutions, Indian media quoted Sibi George, India’s secretary for the West in the Ministry of External Affairs, as saying while dismissing the charges of rights violations.
India has an independent judiciary, free media and a strong democratic system, George said. He also pointed to India’s role in the COVID-19 pandemic and its wider international engagement.
Svendsen later said the answer did not directly address her concerns regarding freedom of the press and human rights. “If you get a response from officials that doesn’t answer the question that you asked, you are supposed to follow up with questions,” she said.
The exchange attracted more attention as Norway ranks first in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index whereas India ranks 157th among 180 countries, according to Reporters Without Borders.
Svendsen’s suspension claim has added another twist to the debate. She confirmed on X, saying she lost access to Facebook and Instagram, but the reason for the suspension is unconfirmed.
Any reports suggesting that her accounts were suspended due to the Modi question should be viewed with skepticism unless Meta or another official source provides evidence to the contrary.
The incident has reopened debate over press freedom, political accountability, and media access in the wake of high-profile diplomatic visits.
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