After Questioning Modi in Oslo, Norwegian Journalist Faces Online Backlash

Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng’s question to Narendra Modi during an Oslo media appearance lasted only seconds. What followed was days of online attacks, conspiracy claims, memes, and account suspensions — turning a diplomatic moment into a wider debate on press freedom and digital intimidation. 

A brief exchange during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Oslo on May 18 quickly turned into a broader online controversy. Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen asked Modi whether he would answer questions “from the freest press in the world.” After the clip went viral, Svendsen faced harassment from several right-wing accounts on X.

Soon after the incident gained traction, Svendsen stated that her Facebook and Instagram accounts had been suspended, further fueling  a targeted online backlash.

What happened in Oslo ?

The incident took place on May 18 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Oslo, Norway, where he held bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Following the joint press briefing  at the Government Guest House in Oslo, Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen stood up and posed a question  to Modi: “Prime Minister Modi, why don’t you take questions from the freest press in the world?”

Later, during a Ministry of External Affairs briefing in Oslo, Secretary (West) Sibi George was questioned by Norwegian journalists over press freedom, democracy, and human rights in India.

During the interaction, Sibi George strongly defended India and emphasised the country’s democratic values. He criticised what he described as an outsider’s misunderstanding of the country. “People have no understanding of the scale of India,” he said during the briefing, while also pointing to India’s constitutional guarantees, democratic structure, and role during global crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Who is Helle Lyng Svendsen?

Helle Lyng Svendsen is a Norwegian journalist and commentator associated with Dagsavisen, a Norwegian newspaper known for its political and international coverage. She recently came under international spotlight after questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a joint media appearance in Oslo on May 18.

Labelled a Spy, Racist, and Propagandist

On May 18, she shared the video of the incident on her official X account, stating that Indian Prime Minister  Narendra Modi did not take her question-something that she had not expected anyway.While Norway holds the number one spot on the World Press Freedom Index, India is ranked 157th, placing it alongside Palestine, the United Arab Emirates, and Cuba. She added that it is a journalist’s duty to question those in power.

The video shows Prime Minister  Narendra Modi leaving the joint press briefing,as the journalist calls out her question.

The Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, re-posted the clip with the comment, “When there is no need to conceal, there is no reason to be afraid. How does India’s reputation suffer when the world witnesses a compromised Prime Minister panic and evade a few inquiries?” Meanwhile, social media influencer Dhruv Rathee shared the post, suggesting that the event was a national embarrassment for India. Actor-politician Prakash Raj also reposted the clip in support of Helle Lyng Svendsen.

While some users dismissed the incident by arguing that the Oslo event was a “joint briefing” rather than a press conference, and that journalists were not expected to ask questions, several right-wing users on  X went further, accusing Svendsen of being ‘planted by political agents’ or acting on behalf of foreign interests. One viral post described her as a ‘racist white supremacist masquerading as a journalist’, while another attempted to portray her as part of a network linked to billionaire philanthropist George Soros, a recurring figure in several online conspiracy narratives. Other posts focused on discrediting Helle Lyng’s credibility by scrutinising her limited activity and  low follower count on X. One account claimed that the newspaper was “irrelevant” and alleged that smaller publications like Dagsavisen would not typically receive access to such diplomatic events.

On May 19, amid the growing backlash on X, Helle Lyng Svendsen publicly responded to accusations that she was linked to foreign governments or intelligence networks. In a post on X, the Norwegian journalist wrote, “I never thought I would have to write this, but I am not a foreign spy of any sort, sent out by any foreign government.” She further clarified that she was a journalist working primarily in Norway.

The statement came after several accounts on X attempted to portray her as politically motivated or connected to foreign influence operations following her exchange with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Oslo.

Many right-wing accounts used Helle Lyng’s photo to make offensive memes, weaponized her old X posts to ridicule her profession, and responded to the post.

Meta suspends Helle Lyng Svendsen’s Instagram and Facebook accounts.

On May 20, Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen stated on X that she had struggled throughout the day to access her Instagram account before it was eventually suspended. In the post, she described the suspension as “a small prize to pay for press freedom”, while also noting that she had “never experienced it before”. Shortly after, in a separate post shared on May 20, she suggested that Meta had suspended both her Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Screenshot of the X posts shared on May 20.

Responding to the post, a user accused Helle Lyng of playing a “Soros-sponsored script” and targeting PM Narendra Modi under the pretext of “Freedom of Press”.Another user accused the journalist of playing the ‘victim card’. Condemning Meta’s move, a user remarked, “Insta and Facebook are lapdogs of Narendra Modi”.

The episode illustrates how quickly online outrage can escalate into targeted harassment. A diplomatic exchange that lasted only a few seconds turned into days of coordinated trolling, political messaging, memes, and accusations. In the process, the online trolls ultimately overshadowed the broader discussions around press freedom.