In a significant escalation of its ongoing legal battle with the Indian government, Elon Musk‘s social media platform X has filed a lawsuit alleging that India’s IT Ministry has unlawfully expanded its censorship powers. The lawsuit, filed on March 5, 2025, claims that the government has created a parallel system allowing numerous officials to issue content removal orders without adhering to established legal safeguards.
Key Allegations:
Parallel Censorship Mechanism: X argues that the Indian government is using a website launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs to facilitate content blocking orders. This system bypasses traditional legal protections that require such orders to be issued only in cases threatening national security or public order, with oversight by top officials.
Lack of Transparency: The lawsuit highlights that this mechanism lacks the robust legal safeguards present in Indian law, leading to “unrestrained censorship of information in India.”
Escalation of Legal Dispute: This lawsuit marks a new chapter in the ongoing conflict between X and the Indian government over content moderation. In 2021, X faced criticism for not complying with orders to block tweets related to a farmers’ protest, eventually complying under public pressure.
Implications for Business Expansion:
The timing of this lawsuit is critical as Elon Musk prepares to launch his ventures Starlink and Tesla in India. The legal challenge underscores growing tensions between tech companies and governments over censorship and content regulation.
Upcoming Hearing:
A hearing on the case is scheduled for March 27 in the High Court of Karnataka. The outcome will have significant implications for free speech and online content regulation in India.
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