Social media giant X has confirmed it will appeal a recent ruling by the High Court of Karnataka that upheld India’s new online content removal system.
The decision strengthens the government’s power to compel platforms to delete posts through a portal known as Sahyog, giving millions of police officers direct authority to issue takedown requests.
The court dismissed X’s petition on September 24, ruling that foreign companies cannot claim constitutional free speech rights under Article 19 of India’s Constitution. It further held that unregulated social media platforms cannot be allowed to function in what it described as a state of “anarchic freedom,” particularly in cases involving offences against women.
In its first official response, X said: “We will appeal this order to defend free expression.” The company added that the Sahyog portal allows content removal “based solely on allegations of illegality, without judicial review or due process for the speakers, and threatens platforms with criminal liability for non-compliance.”
Launched in October 2024 by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Sahyog enables over two million officers and authorised officials to file removal orders against platforms such as X, Google, Meta, YouTube, and others.
It operates under Section 790(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which strips platforms of their safe harbour protections if they fail to act on flagged material. Experts argue this system sidesteps the safeguards in Section 69A of the same Act, which require judicial oversight before content can be blocked.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has defended Sahyog, saying it is necessary to curb the spread of unlawful material and ensure accountability online. Officials argue that the new system accelerates the removal of harmful content while reducing bureaucratic delays.
Rights groups see the matter differently. Digital advocacy organisations such as SFLC.in and The Dialogue warn that Sahyog risks becoming a “censorship portal,” enabling arbitrary takedowns without transparency or the chance for users to appeal.
Between its launch in October 2024 and April 2025, the portal has already processed 130 takedown requests, affecting platforms including Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft.
The ruling carries implications well beyond India. With more than 800 million internet users, India is one of the largest digital markets in the world, and its policies often influence regulatory debates in other countries.
Non-compliance with Sahyog orders could result in criminal liability, while compliance could undermine the company’s long-standing stance on free expression.
Elon Musk’s platform has previously clashed with governments in Brazil, Turkey, and Germany over demands for stricter content controls. India’s ruling now adds to that list.
