Elon Musk’s X challenges Indian govt in Karnataka HC over censorship
THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK Bengaluru, March 20: Elon Musk-owned social media company X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday filed a lawsuit against…
Image: Vartha Bharati
THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Bengaluru, March 20: Elon Musk-owned social media company X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the Government of India in the Karnataka High Court.
The lawsuit challenges the alleged “unlawful censorship” through the IT Act’s Section 79(3)(B) and the Cooperation Portal.
X Corp claims that the Indian government is misusing these provisions to create a parallel and unregulated censorship mechanism, bypassing statutory safeguards. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 27, 2025.
X Alleges Misuse of IT Act Provisions
In its petition, X has argued that the Indian government is misusing Section 79(3)(B) of the IT Act. This provision allows intermediaries to be directed to remove or disable access to illegal content, but only by following a clear legal procedure.
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X claims that the government is issuing takedown orders through the Cooperation Portal without adhering to the procedures outlined under Section 69A.
The Supreme Court, in the Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India (2015) case, recognized Section 69A as the only legitimate legal framework for blocking online content.
X alleges that by using the Cooperation Portal, the government is bypassing transparency and accountability while ordering content removal, which amounts to a violation of freedom of expression.
Govt’s Response
In the first hearing, the Indian government stated that no action has been taken so far against X for refusing to join the Cooperation Portal. The government has also sought clarification from X regarding the responses of its AI chatbot, Grok, adding a new dimension to the case.
However, the government has yet to provide a detailed response to the lawsuit.
The court granted interim relief to X, allowing it to approach the court again if the government takes any strict action.
