Indian users trying to access Medium.com encounter connection timeouts and DNS errors. This isn't a technical outage but a deliberate DNS blocking measure. Indian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are manipulating DNS responses under orders from the Department of Telecommunications, preventing browsers from finding Medium's correct IP address and effectively making the platform inaccessible.

The blocking stems from India's Information Technology Act, 2000, specifically Section 69A, which grants the government power to block websites in the interest of public order. Often, these orders target specific content but ISPs implement broad domain blocks, causing collateral damage. This method is favored for its ease of implementation and plausible deniability, creating inconsistent access across different networks.

For affected users, the easiest workaround is changing your device's DNS settings to public servers like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google DNS (8.8.8.8). More robust solutions include using a VPN or the Tor Browser. This situation highlights broader concerns about internet transparency and the impact on Indian writers who rely on Medium for publishing and earnings, pushing them to seek alternative platforms.