X challenges India’s expanded social media censorship in court

Tensions have escalated between Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, and the Indian government over extensive online content censorship measures.

Triggered by a seemingly harmless post describing a senior politician as ‘useless,’ the incident quickly spiralled into a significant legal confrontation.

X has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration of overstepping constitutional bounds by empowering numerous government bodies to issue content-removal orders, significantly expanding the scope of India’s digital censorship.

At the heart of the dispute lies India’s increased social media content regulation since 2023, including launching the Sahyog platform, a centralised portal facilitating direct content-removal orders from officials to tech firms.

X rejected participating in Sahyog, labelling it a ‘censorship portal,’ and subsequently filed a lawsuit in Karnataka High Court earlier this year, contesting the legality of India’s directives and website, which it claims undermine free speech.

Indian authorities justify their intensified oversight by pointing to the need to control misinformation, safeguard national security, and prevent societal discord. They argue that the measures have broad support within the tech community. Indeed, major players like Google and Meta have reportedly complied without public protest, though both companies have declined to comment on their stance.

However, the court documents reveal that the scope of India’s censorship requests extends far beyond misinformation.

Authorities have reportedly targeted satirical cartoons depicting politicians unfavorably, criticism regarding government preparedness for natural disasters, and even media coverage of serious public incidents like a deadly stampede at a railway station.

While Musk and Prime Minister Modi maintain an outwardly amicable relationship, the conflict presents significant implications for X’s operations in India, one of its largest user bases.

Musk, a self-proclaimed free speech advocate, finds himself at a critical juncture, navigating between principles and the imperative to expand his business ventures within India’s substantial market.

Source: Reuters

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