Elon Musk’s Platform X Challenges Indian Government Over Content Takedowns

Elon Musk’s social media company, X, has initiated legal action against the Indian government, contesting its frequent use of content removal directives.

India, often listed among the top five nations in terms of government-issued takedown requests to social media companies, is now facing pushback from X, which argues that the current system for censoring online content bypasses necessary checks and balances.

The lawsuit targets a specific legal provision the Indian authorities rely on to block content. X claims this clause is being misapplied to establish what it describes as an “unlawful alternative pathway” for silencing information, as reported by legal publication Bar and Bench.

The dispute is scheduled for a court hearing in Karnataka on March 27. A preliminary session earlier this week did not result in any resolution.

This isn’t the first time X has faced off with Indian officials. Back in 2023, an Indian court imposed a $61,000 penalty on the platform after it contested orders to take down tweets and suspend accounts that were critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.

Almost a year after that ruling, X confirmed that its legal appeal against those blocking orders is still ongoing. The platform noted in February 2024 that it had informed affected users about the actions taken, in line with its internal policies.

"While we remain consistent in our stance, our writ appeal against the Indian government's blocking directives is still under review. Impacted users have been notified as per our procedures," the company posted.

X also expressed concern over a lack of transparency, stating that although legal constraints prevent them from publishing the executive orders, they believe public disclosure is crucial.

"In the absence of transparency, accountability suffers and decisions may become arbitrary," the platform noted.

This legal battle unfolds just as Musk’s other ventures, Starlink and Tesla, prepare for entry into the Indian market—marking a crucial moment in the business relationship between the tech mogul’s enterprises and the world's most populous democracy.