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Indian Court Rejects X’s Challenge to Modi Government’s Content Removal Rules

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An Indian court has dismissed X’s legal bid to overturn the country’s new content removal system, ruling that the social media platform—owned by Elon Musk—must comply with local laws despite its claims that the mechanism amounted to censorship.

The case centered on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tightened internet regulations introduced in 2023. The rules allow a wider range of government officials to issue takedown orders directly through a centralized government website launched in October.

X had argued the measures were unconstitutional and gave “every Tom, Dick, and Harry” the power to censor speech online. But Justice M. Nagaprasanna of Karnataka’s high court rejected the claim, stating: “Every platform that seeks to operate within the jurisdiction of our nation must accept that liberty is yoked with responsibility.”

The ruling follows months of legal battles between X and government lawyers. India’s government defended the system as a way to combat unlawful online content, misinformation, and material it says spreads hate and division, while ensuring greater accountability for platforms.

Officials also noted that other tech giants, including Meta and Google, support the government’s approach.

X, which has repeatedly clashed with authorities worldwide over compliance demands, now faces the possibility of appealing the decision to India’s Supreme Court.

Musk vs. Modi: Inside the Battle Over India’s Expanding Internet Censorship

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Since 2023, India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has significantly tightened its internet censorship, empowering hundreds of officials and thousands of police officers to submit direct takedown orders to social media platforms via a government portal called Sahyog. This has sparked a high-stakes legal battle between Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and the Indian government, challenging the constitutionality of these sweeping censorship measures.

X alleges the crackdown suppresses free speech by enabling arbitrary removal of posts critical of public officials, satire, or politically sensitive content, while Indian authorities argue the moves are necessary to combat unlawful content and maintain public order. The government points out that major tech firms like Meta and Google support its approach, though both declined to comment on this specific dispute.

Court documents and police interviews reviewed by Reuters reveal a system where thousands of takedown requests have targeted a broad range of content, from misinformation and communal tensions to political cartoons mocking Modi and regional leaders, and even news coverage of a deadly stampede at New Delhi’s largest railway station. Many posts remain online, highlighting friction over what content crosses the line.

The case has also spotlighted the controversial Sahyog website, which X calls a “censorship portal,” refusing to participate and filing suit against the government. The platform’s challenge in the Karnataka High Court centers on whether the government can delegate broad censorship powers to multiple agencies without transparent, judicial oversight.

Despite the legal conflict, Musk and Modi maintain a publicly amicable relationship, with Musk praising India’s potential and planning to expand Tesla and Starlink operations there. However, behind the scenes, Indian police officers have criticized X for failing to act on cultural sensitivities and takedown requests, with some content considered offensive or taboo in the Indian context.

This clash highlights the global tension between free speech ideals and governments’ desire to control online content, intensified in India—the world’s largest internet market—where digital censorship has grown rapidly under Modi’s administration.

Reuters X Account Restored in India Following Suspension Over Legal Request

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News account on X was reinstated in India on Sunday, a day after the social media platform suspended it citing a legal demand, according to an email from X to Reuters’ social media team. X did not provide further details on the reason for the restoration.

Earlier, the Reuters account — which has over 25 million global followers — had been blocked in India since Saturday night, with a notice stating that the suspension was in response to a legal demand under India’s Information Technology Act, 2000. This law allows government officials to order removal of content deemed to violate local laws, including issues of national security or public order.

The Indian government’s Press Information Bureau denied that any agency requested the handle be withheld and said officials were working with X to resolve the issue. Reuters and X representatives did not immediately comment on the restoration.

Another Reuters-operated account, Reuters World, also blocked in India, was restored late Sunday night.

The earlier suspension followed an email sent to Reuters on May 16, informing them of a legal request to remove certain content from their X account in compliance with Indian law. However, the exact content targeted, the requesting entity, and whether this email was connected to the suspension remain unclear.

X has faced ongoing disputes with India over content removal requests. In March, X sued the Indian government over a new website it argued expanded government powers for content takedowns, a case that is ongoing.