2ndsenseaudio.com – Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government, alleging unlawful expansion of censorship powers that facilitate the removal of online content. The suit, submitted to the Karnataka High Court on March 5, 2025, challenges directives from India’s Ministry of Information Technology, which, according to X, permit numerous government officials to issue content removal orders through a website launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs. X contends that this mechanism lacks the stringent legal safeguards previously mandated, such as considerations for sovereignty and public order, and oversight by senior officials.
The lawsuit seeks to invalidate this directive, arguing that it creates an “impermissible parallel mechanism” leading to “unrestrained censorship of information in India.” The Karnataka High Court briefly addressed the case earlier this week and has scheduled the next hearing for March 27.
This legal action represents an escalation in the ongoing conflict between X and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration regarding content regulation on social media platforms. In 2021, X was involved in a standoff with the Indian government over non-compliance with orders to block certain tweets related to farmers’ protests. Although X eventually complied following public criticism, the legal dispute remains unresolved in Indian courts.
The timing of this lawsuit is notable, as Elon Musk is reportedly preparing to introduce other ventures, such as Starlink and Tesla, into the Indian market.
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for digital regulations in India and the broader discourse on freedom of expression within the country.Read More