Elon Musk’s platform X has launched a lawsuit in the Indian Supreme Court against the Indian government challenging the legality of India’s regulation of content and takedown orders. The litigation is the most recent confrontation between the tech entrepreneur’s company and New Delhi about freedom of speech and censorship from the government.
The suit, brought in a local Indian court, argues that recent requests for takedowns infringe on the freedoms of speech guaranteed by India’s constitution. X contends that political criticism and public debate are among the items being called for as takedowns, and such material should not be stifled, according to the platform.
The Indian government has justified its actions on the grounds of national security and public order, but this legal confrontation may also revive issues of internet freedom and platform accountability in one of the world’s largest digital markets.
Musk’s X has had regulatory challenges in India before, but this official lawsuit is a major escalation, potentially creating a legal precedent for other international tech firms doing business under India’s increasingly restrictive internet regulations.
