On Monday, social network X announced plans to challenge an Indian court’s decision that supported a government-controlled content removal system, criticizing the process as “opaque” and arguing that it “lacks legal foundation.”
According to the platform, the Karnataka High Court’s ruling last week permits police to issue “unjustified” takedown requests via the Sahyog online portal. This judgment followed a petition from X, submitted in March, which contested both the government and the portal—described by the company in court as a “censorship tool.”
India introduced Sahyog (meaning “assistance” in Hindi) at the end of 2024 to streamline content removals, enabling authorities to directly instruct social media companies to take down material they consider illegal. While Google, Meta, and ShareChat have joined the system, X has so far declined to participate.
The portal “sidesteps Section 69A of the IT Act, contravenes Supreme Court decisions, and undermines the constitutional rights of Indian citizens to free speech and expression,” X’s Global Government Affairs team posted on Monday.
Section 69A of the IT Act outlines the procedures for the central government to block online content, including requirements for written directives and opportunities for judicial oversight.
“Sahyog allows officials to demand content removal based merely on claims of ‘illegality,’ without any judicial scrutiny or due process for those posting the content, and exposes platforms to criminal charges if they do not comply,” X stated.
In its decision last week, the court dismissed X’s argument regarding “free speech,” stating that as a foreign entity, the platform is not entitled to constitutional protections for freedom of expression under Indian law.
“We respectfully disagree with the notion that we cannot voice these concerns due to being incorporated overseas — X plays a vital role in India’s public dialogue, and our users’ voices are central to our service,” the company said. “We intend to challenge this ruling to protect freedom of expression.”
X’s dispute with Indian authorities coincides with Elon Musk’s efforts to grow his business interests in the country. The entrepreneur recently introduced Tesla to India and obtained final regulatory clearance for launching his satellite internet venture, Starlink.
