Indian Court Dismisses Elon Musk’s X Challenge Against Government “Censorship Portal”
An Indian court has dismissed a legal challenge filed by Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) against a government-run online portal that facilitates content takedown orders. The ruling marks another major setback for the company in its ongoing battle with Indian authorities over digital freedom, censorship, and regulation.
Court Rejects X’s Petition
On Wednesday, a single-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court rejected X’s petition against the Sahyog portal, operated by India’s federal home ministry. The judge ruled that the case was “without merit,” though the full order has not yet been released publicly.
For now, X has not indicated whether it plans to appeal the decision.
This ruling is significant as it represents the second time in just over two years that X has failed to overturn Indian government policies aimed at regulating online content. Digital rights experts warn the verdict could have far-reaching implications for free expression in India, where X reportedly has around 25 million users.
Technology policy researcher Prateek Waghre called the decision “worrisome,” arguing that it effectively legitimizes government agencies’ ability to directly issue takedown orders to social media companies without transparency or oversight. He added that the “full impact” of the ruling would only be clear once the complete judgment is made public.
Why X Took the Government to Court
The dispute centers on Sahyog, a digital platform launched in 2024 to streamline the process of issuing content-related notices to social media intermediaries such as X, Facebook, Google, and Amazon. While most U.S. tech giants agreed to join Sahyog, X stood apart and refused.
In its petition, X described Sahyog as a “censorship portal.” The company argued that the platform gave government officers—including potentially “tens of thousands of local police officials”—the power to issue takedown requests unilaterally. X said this bypassed established rules that require due process, including hearings and review mechanisms before content is removed.
A lawyer for X even remarked in court that “every Tom, Dick, and Harry officer” could now order takedowns, a comment strongly objected to by the government’s counsel.
If companies fail to comply with orders issued through Sahyog within 36 hours, they risk losing their “intermediary status” and safe-harbor protections, which shield platforms from liability for user-generated content.
Government’s Defense of Sahyog
The Indian government has consistently defended the portal, claiming it is a necessary tool to deal with the growing spread of unlawful, harmful, and misleading content online. Officials argue that Sahyog is not designed to block content outright but to notify platforms that they are hosting potentially unlawful material.
The Karnataka High Court appeared to side with this view. In its oral observations, the judge described Sahyog as a “public good” and emphasized that social media cannot be allowed to exist in a state of “anarchic freedom.”
The court also criticized X for what it saw as double standards, pointing out that while the company complies with takedown laws in the United States, it resists similar orders in India.
Comparing India and the U.S.
The court referenced the Take It Down Act, a U.S. law passed earlier in 2025, which requires platforms to swiftly remove intimate or AI-generated explicit images posted without consent. X has publicly supported the American law and pledged compliance.
The judge questioned why X accepts U.S. restrictions but refuses to cooperate with Indian takedown requests, particularly when both aim to regulate harmful online content.
Rising Concerns Over Censorship
Critics argue that the Sahyog portal risks being abused for political censorship. Court filings show that various government agencies have asked platforms to remove a wide range of content—from videos documenting a tragic stampede in Delhi, which killed 18 people, to posts allegedly harming the reputation of prominent figures such as the prime minister and home minister.
Digital rights advocates warn that without clear oversight mechanisms, the system could allow authorities to silence dissent and criticism under the guise of content moderation.
In fact, some experts had already warned earlier this year that the portal was causing a “wholesale increase in censorship” across Indian social media.
X’s History of Legal Battles in India
This is not the first time X has locked horns with the Indian government. In 2022, before Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company, X became the first social media platform to legally challenge multiple government takedown orders targeting tweets and accounts.
That case also ended unfavorably for the platform. The Karnataka High Court not only ruled against X but also fined the company 5 million rupees ($56,000; £42,000) for delays in compliance.
What’s Next for X?
With this latest setback, X faces a critical decision: whether to appeal the Karnataka High Court’s ruling or comply with government demands by joining the Sahyog system.
The stakes are high. By refusing to comply, X risks losing its safe-harbor protections in India—a move that could leave the company vulnerable to lawsuits and penalties for any user-generated content deemed unlawful.
For Elon Musk’s platform, India is both a massive growth market and one of its toughest regulatory battlegrounds. The outcome of this clash will not only shape X’s future in India but could also influence how other global tech companies handle censorship, compliance, and free expression in one of the world’s largest digital markets.