X says will fight Indian court ruling on content takedown system

On Monday, social media platform X announced its intention to appeal a ruling from an Indian court that upheld a controversial content takedown framework. The company criticized the government-operated system as "secretive" and argued that it lacks a legal foundation. The Karnataka High Court's decision allows police to issue what X describes as "arbitrary" orders for content removal via an online portal known as Sahyog. This ruling stemmed from a petition filed by X in March, where the platform labeled the government’s operation as a "censorship portal." Launched in late 2024, Sahyog—meaning "assistance" in Hindi—was designed to streamline the process of removing online content deemed unlawful by government agencies. While major companies like Google, Meta, and ShareChat have joined the initiative, X has resisted compliance. According to X's Global Government Affairs account, the portal undermines Section 69A of the IT Act. This section outlines how the government can legally request content to be blocked online, ensuring procedural safeguards such as written orders and judicial reviews. X argued that the Sahyog system allows officials to mandate content removal based solely on claims of illegality, bypassing judicial oversight and due process. In its recent ruling, the court dismissed X's argument centered on free speech, stating that as a foreign entity, the platform does not possess constitutional rights to freedom of expression under Indian law. X responded, asserting, "We respectfully disagree with the notion that our foreign incorporation eliminates our right to voice these concerns. X plays a crucial role in public discourse in India, with the opinions of our users at the forefront of our platform. We will appeal this order to defend free expression." This legal battle occurs as Elon Musk seeks to broaden his business presence in India, having recently introduced Tesla to the market and achieved regulatory approval for his satellite internet venture, Starlink.