Elon Musk social media platform X has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government, challenging its takedown orders for social media content removal. The legal battle questions the government’s authority to remove online content and raises concerns about censorship.
India, the world’s largest democracy, frequently ranks among the top five countries requesting content removal. The lawsuit comes at a time when Musk’s Starlink and Tesla are preparing to enter the Indian market.
The case focuses on a key legal provision that allows the government to issue blocking orders. X argues that this mechanism bypasses safeguards and creates an unlawful censorship system. According to the Indian legal news website Bar and Bench, X of Elon Musk claims the law is being misused to block information unfairly. The platform insists that such actions violate transparency and accountability standards.
A court in Karnataka will hear the case on March 27. Earlier this week, a brief hearing failed to reach a conclusion. The upcoming ruling could set a legal precedent for social media regulations in India.
This is not X’s first legal battle with the Indian government. In 2023, an Indian court fined X $61,000 after rejecting its plea against content takedown orders. Nearly a year later, X confirmed that its appeal against blocking orders remains pending. The platform continues to challenge the government’s restrictions on specific posts and accounts.
“Consistent with our position, a writ appeal challenging the Indian government’s blocking orders remains pending,” X stated in February 2024. The company also notified affected users about the issue.
Due to legal restrictions, X cannot publish the executive orders related to content removals. However, the company insists that making them public is essential for transparency. “A lack of disclosure leads to unaccountability and arbitrary decision-making,” X warned. The platform continues to advocate for greater freedom of speech in India.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for social media policies in India. It may also influence how global tech companies navigate government-imposed restrictions.
