X’s lawsuit follows an order from India’s federal railway ministry demanding the removal of hundreds of posts, including videos of a deadly stampede in Delhi that killed 18 people during the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage
By Titilope Adako
Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government, accusing it of expanding censorship powers through the Sahyog portal.
The case, set to be heard in court, challenges the federal home ministry’s use of the portal to compel content removal.
According to BBC, X argues that the portal grants excessive powers to officials, violating India’s digital laws, and insists it cannot be forced to comply with what it calls a “censorship portal.”
While the Indian government defends Sahyog as essential for tackling harmful content, major tech firms like Amazon, Google, and Meta have agreed to comply.
The portal automates government-issued takedown orders to platforms like X and Facebook.
X’s lawsuit follows an order from India’s federal railway ministry demanding the removal of hundreds of posts, including videos of a deadly stampede in Delhi that killed 18 people during the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage.
The company claims these orders exceed legal boundaries, bypassing procedures such as notices, hearings, and reviews.
X alleges that “countless” government officials, including thousands of local police officers, are issuing unilateral takedown orders without oversight.
The federal IT and home ministries have yet to respond to BBC’s request for comment.
The Indian government insists its actions are lawful, arguing that Sahyog is necessary given the surge in unlawful online content.
Apar Gupta of the Internet Freedom Foundation called the case “vital,” citing a “wholesale increase in censorship” due to Sahyog.
This lawsuit is the latest in the ongoing friction between X and the Indian government. In 2021, Delhi police raided Twitter’s offices over a tweet labeled “manipulated media.”
In 2022, X sued India over takedown orders related to farmer protests but lost the case, with an appeal still pending.
The government has also investigated X’s chatbot, Grok, for controversial responses.
The timing of the lawsuit comes as Musk expands business operations in India.
Starlink recently partnered with telecom firms for satellite internet services, while Tesla is hiring in Delhi and Mumbai and scouting showroom locations.
Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Centre’s South Asia Institute noted that Musk’s growing business ties and his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump could impact his dealings with the Indian government.
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