Musk’s X Sues Indian Government Over Censorship

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI — Elon Musk’s social media platform X is pushing back against India’s online censorship, filing a lawsuit that questions the constitutionality of a system it says enables abuse of power.

Filed in the Karnataka High Court, the legal challenge confronts sweeping rules introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in 2023. The rules vastly broaden who can demand removal of online content — from federal ministries to local police departments.

At the center of the dispute is a government-run platform called Sahyog, launched to streamline takedown requests. X has refused to participate, calling it a “censorship portal” and arguing that it allows arbitrary silencing of critical voices.

According to court filings, X says the expanded powers could be used to muzzle dissent, satire, and criticism of public officials under the pretext of maintaining public order. The company’s legal team warns that the laws undermine India’s constitutional protections for free speech and create a dangerous precedent for democratic societies.

The Indian government has pushed back hard in court, accusing X of being a conduit for “spreading hate and division.” Officials argue that disinformation on the platform has disrupted communal harmony and public safety, and assert that X’s refusal to fully comply with takedown orders reflects a lack of understanding of India’s social and cultural context.