Social media platform X expressed on Monday that it was “deeply concerned” by an Indian court’s decision that dismissed its challenge to New Delhi’s content removal mechanisms, and announced plans to appeal in order to defend freedom of expression in the country.
Elon Musk-owned X has been in conflict with Indian authorities for months over the new content removal system, equating it with censorship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has argued that the new system addresses the proliferation of unlawful content and ensures online accountability.
X stated on Monday that the new mechanism “has no basis in the law”, violated rulings from the country’s top court and infringed on Indians’ basic rights of freedom of speech and expression.
Musk, who describes himself as a free-speech absolutist, has clashed with authorities in several countries over compliance and content takedown demands. However, the company’s lawsuit in India targets the entire basis for tightened internet regulation in the world’s most populous nation.
Since 2023, Modi’s government has intensified efforts to monitor the internet by allowing many more officials to file takedown orders and submit them directly to tech firms through a website launched in October.
Last week, an Indian judge stated that every platform operating in India “must accept that liberty is yoked with responsibility”.
In its statement, X said: “X respects and complies with Indian law… We respectfully disagree with the view that we have no right to raise these concerns because of our incorporation abroad…”
