X Challenges Karnataka High Court Decision on Sahyog Portal
Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) announced it will appeal the recent High Court of Karnataka ruling that upheld India’s content removal system via the Sahyog portal. The platform said in a post: “We will appeal this order to defend free expression.” The court had dismissed X’s legal challenge to quash the content removal mechanism.
X argues that the Sahyog portal gives police officers across India the power to issue takedown requests based solely on allegations of “illegality,” without judicial review or due process for content creators. The company also warns that noncompliance could lead to criminal liability.
India’s government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defends the system as a necessary tool to curb unlawful content and ensure accountability online. The government claims that expanded powers for officials to file takedown orders are essential to managing the digital information environment.
Legal, Free Speech, and Regulatory Stakes in India
X’s Indian lawsuit struck at the heart of the country’s digital regulation regime. The platform contended that the new rules circumvent constitutional protections and procedural safeguards under India’s Information Technology Act and past Supreme Court precedents.
The Karnataka High Court, in its ruling, argued that social media cannot be left in a “state of anarchic freedom.” It held the Sahyog portal to be a valid regulatory instrument under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, and stated the platform cannot use American free‑speech norms to bypass Indian law.
X has a history of clashes with governments over content takedown demands. Elon Musk, X’s owner, has described himself as a “free‑speech absolutist,” and sees the Indian case as part of a broader fight over online speech and platform responsibility.
The case now appears headed for higher appeals, possibly even the Supreme Court of India. The outcome could reshape how internet platforms and governments interact in India’s vast digital ecosystem.
