Helle Lyng, the Norwegian journalist who made headlines for heckling Prime Minister Modi during a joint press conference in Norway, has revealed that her Meta-owned social media accounts have been suspended.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Lyng, a reporter for the Oslo-based daily Dagsavisen, shared screenshots showing that both her personal Instagram and Facebook accounts had been deactivated by the tech giant.
"If you are trying to reach me on Instagram or Facebook, I am letting you know that both of my accounts have been suspended," Lyng posted on X. "It is a small price to pay for press freedom, but I’ve never experienced something like this before."
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
The social media restriction follows a dizzying 48 hours for the Oslo reporter. The saga began on Monday at the conclusion of a joint diplomatic media appearance in Oslo featuring PM Modi and his Norwegian counterpart. As the leaders prepared to leave the room, Lyng vocally confronted the Indian PM, shouting, "Why don't you take questions from the world's freest press?"
The stunt immediately went viral across social media networks, culminating hours later in a fiery, 17-minute showdown at a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) briefing. When Lyng interrupted MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George during an ongoing answer about India's human rights record, the seasoned diplomat firmly shut her down, stating:
"You ask a question, do not tell me how to answer it... People have no understanding of the scale of India. They read one or two reports published by some God-forsaken, ignorant NGOs and then come and ask questions."
Swarmed by internet sleuths
Following the viral interaction, Lyng's digital footprint became the focus of intense scrutiny by millions of pro-government Indian social media users.
Netizens quickly pointed out that Lyng's X account had suddenly acquired a paid "Blue Tick" verification badge and went active just days prior to the summit, despite being largely dormant since 2024. Lyng defended herself online, claiming she bought the verification simply to fix an annoying typo in her profile name.
Critics dug through her journalistic archive, unearthing older articles where she praised Beijing and Chinese President Xi Jinping. This prompted a wave of online trolling labeling her a "foreign plant," a "spy," or a "Chinese proxy"—accusations she has vehemently denied.
Despite the severe backlash and the loss of her Meta platforms, Lyng’s digital visibility has exploded. Her X following skyrocketed almost overnight, ballooning from a modest 400 followers to more than 45,000.
