The Karnataka High Court has refused to grant interim protection to Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) from possible coercive action by the Indian government. The ruling reinforces India’s stance that all social media platforms must comply with the country’s laws unless a court rules otherwise.
X challenges government orders
X has argued that while it is a responsible global company committed to following local laws, India’s legal framework is unclear. The company contends that Section 69A of the IT Act, which provides the government with takedown powers, includes safeguards that are being bypassed. Instead, authorities have been issuing orders under Section 79, effectively pressuring the platform to comply without proper oversight.
X further claimed that the Indian government is using the threat of withdrawing its “safe harbour” protection—legal immunity that shields platforms from liability for user content—to force compliance with takedown requests. The company warned that such a practice undermines due process and puts digital platforms in a difficult position.
“Mudslinging” tactics
Another major grievance raised by X is that India’s rules have granted takedown authority to officials beyond traditional regulatory bodies, including tax officers. The company cautioned that if this trend continues, even lower-ranking officials like Tehsildars or clerks could be given the power to demand content removal. X also alleged that the Indian government has resorted to “mudslinging” tactics against the company, further escalating tensions between the two sides.