Why does Elon Musk’s X sue the Indian government? Is its AI abused, lang language offensive to the audience?
In a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk’s social media platform X, the Indian government is allegedly using the section to create a parallel content barrier mechanism bypassing the structured legal process outlined in Section 69A.
The social media giant “X” owned by US billionaire Elon Musk (formerly Twitter) has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government in the Karnataka High Court, challenging its so-called illegal content regulations and arbitrary censorship.
It has attracted attention to the Center’s interpretation of the Information Technology (IT) Act, especially the use of Section 79(3)(b), which “X” believes violates the Supreme Court’s ruling and undermines free expression online.
The lawsuit states that the government is using this section to create a parallel content blocking mechanism that bypasses the structured legal process outlined in Section 69A.
“X” claims that this approach contradicts the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in the Shreya Singhal case, which determines that the content can only be blocked through appropriate judicial proceedings or a legally defined avenue as stipulated in Article 69A.
Article 79(3)(b) requires online platforms to remove illegal content when a court order or government notice directed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B).
If the platform fails to comply within 36 hours, it may be risky of losing its safe harbor protection under section 79(1) and may be liable under various laws including the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
However, X challenged this interpretation, believing that the provision would not grant government independent powers to block content.
Instead, it accuses the authorities of abusing the law to impose arbitrary censorship without following due process.
Under Article 69A of the IT Act, the government has the right to block public access to digital content if it is believed to be threatened to national security, sovereignty or public order.
However, this process is subject to the 2009 rules of Information Technology (procedures and safeguards used to prevent access to information by public information) which requires a structured review process before decision making is made.
“X” believes that the government did not follow these procedures, but instead used Article 79(3)(b) as a shortcut to allow for the removal of content without the need for review.
The platform sees it as a direct violation of legal safeguards designed to prevent arbitrary censorship.
Another focus of the legal challenges of social media platforms is against the government’s Sahyog portal.
The platform was created by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which aims to simplify the simplified revocation requirements under Section 79(3)(b) and to facilitate direct communication between social media platforms and law enforcement agencies.
However, “X” refused to join an employee on the Sahyog portal, claiming it is a “censorship tool” that puts pressure on the platform to remove content without proper legal review.
The lawsuit argues that this is another attempt by the government to control online discourse without judicial oversight.
(This story has not been edited by DNA staff except for the title and published from ANI/IANS/PTI/REUTERS)
