Microblogging Social Media Platform ‘X’ (Formerly Twitter), Owned by Billionaire Elon Musk, Has Filed A Lawsuit Against The Indian Government in the KarnaTaka HIGH COURT. The platform has challenged what it calls unlawful content regulation and arbitrary censorship.
In Its Petition, ‘X’ Raised Concerns over the government’s interpreting of the information technology (IT) Act. It specifically objected to the use of section 79 (3) (b), arguing that it vioolates Supreme Court RULINGS and Restrests free expression online.
The lawsuit claims the government is using this Section to create a separete content-boxing mechanism that bypasseses the structured legal process under section 69a of the it act, reported PTI. ‘X’ has argued that this contradicts the Supreme Court’s 2015 Ruling in the shreya singhal case, which set establed that content can only be blocked through a judicial process Procedures of Section 69A.
The ministry of information and broadcasting (I & b) has definitioned its position, stating that section 79 (3) (b) Mandates Online Platforms to Remove Illegal content when ordered by a counte Directive. If a platform fails to complete within 36 hours, it risks losing its legal protection under section 79 (1) and count face action under Various Laws, Including The Indion PNAL CODE (IPC).
However, x has disputed this interpretation, stating that the provision does not give the government independent authority to block content. The company has accused authorities of moisting the law to impose censorship without following due to legal procedus.
Under Section 69A, The Government Can Block Access to digital content if it threatens national security, sovereignty, or public order. However, this process is governed by the 2009 information technology rules, which require a structured review review before blocking content. X has alleged that instead of following these procedus, the government is using section 79 (3) (b) as a shortcut to remove content with proper scrutiny.
Another key issue raised in x’s lawsuit is its option to the government’s sahiyog portal. Developed by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (i4C) Under the Ministry of Home Affairs, The Platform was created to Facilitete Takedown Requests Under Section 79 (3) (3) (B) and Enable DirectMunction Between law enforcement agencies and social media companies.
X has refused to assign an employee to the sahyog portal, calling it a ‘censorship tool’ that forces platforms to remove content without adequate and legal review. The lawsuit argues that this is another attempt by the government to control online discourse without judicial oversight.
(With pti inputs)