New Delhi: The Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng, who attempted to ask questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and endeavoured to clash with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official Sibi George during the India-Nordic summit, has now alleged that Meta suspended her Facebook and Instagram accounts. Lyng, who is a reporter for the Oslo-based daily newspaper Dagsavisen, shared screenshots showing her Instagram and Facebook accounts suspended by Meta.
She stated, “This is a small price she is paying for press freedom, but I’ve never experienced it before.”
Helle Lyng Norway
It all started at a joint press statement of PM Modi and his Norwegian equivalent, Jonas Gahr Store, in Oslo on May 18.
Lyng shared a video of PM Modi, asking, “Why doesn’t the Prime Minister take questions from the world’s freest press?”
“Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, would not take my question, I was not expecting him to,” the journalist wrote with the video.
“Norway has the number one spot on the World Press Freedom Index, India is at 157th, competing with Palestine, Emirates & Cuba. It is our job to question the powers we cooperate with,” the post read.
Throughout all day I have struggled to log onto my Instagram account. Now I have been suspended. It is a small prize to pay for press freedom, but I’ve never experienced it before. pic.twitter.com/XCitS65Rlg
— Helle Lyng (@HelleLyngSvends) May 19, 2026
Helle Lyng’s Meta accounts suspended
A day after her video of PM Modi went viral, Helle Lyng, in her X post, said, “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. 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. @Meta”
The cause of her Meta account suspension is not known yet. However, in a cryptic X post, she said, “small price to pay for press freedom.”
“Throughout the day, I have struggled to log onto my Instagram account. Now I have been suspended. It is a small price to pay for press freedom, but I’ve never experienced it before,” she said in her X post, accompanied with a screenshot of her Instagram account, which said, “We have suspended your account, Helle Lyng. 180 days left to appeal the decision, otherwise, your account will be permanently deactivated. Suspended on 19 May 2026.”
(Curated by Pushpak Gondane)