X’s compliance with Indian election commission orders sparks disagreement
Social media platform X complied with directives from India’s election commission to withhold political posts, but expressed disagreement with the orders and called for transparency in future takedown requests.
Social media platform X recently announced it had withheld specific posts in India featuring political content from elected officials, political parties, and candidates, following directives from the country’s election commission.
Despite complying, X expressed disagreement with these orders and urged the commission to make all takedown requests public in the future. This development comes as India prepares for its massive electoral process, involving nearly a billion eligible voters, set to commence on Friday.
Why does it matter?
In anticipation of India’s 2024 elections, tech giants like Google and X are tackling misinformation and boosting voter education. Elon Musk’s X notably introduced Community Notes for fact-checking. Yet, recent clashes with government orders, exemplified by a spat with Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, underscore tensions between Musk’s free speech advocacy and social media’s detrimental influence on democratic processes.
About author
DW Team
The GIP Digital Watch Observatory team, consisting of over 30 digital policy experts from around the world, excels in the fields of research and analysis on digital policy issues. The team is backed by the creative prowess of Creative Lab Diplo and the technical expertise of the Diplo tech team.