X To Challenge High Court Order on Takedowns, Warns It Allows ‘Arbitrary’ Action
Social media giant X has announced it will appeal a recent Karnataka High Court ruling that upheld the Indian government’s power to issue takedown orders, calling the verdict “deeply concerning” and warning it could lead to widespread arbitrary censorship. The company stated its intent to challenge the order “to defend free expression,” setting the stage for a major legal battle over content regulation in India.
The move comes after the Karnataka High Court dismissed petitions filed by X (formerly Twitter) that challenged the Centre’s directives to block certain accounts and posts. In a strongly-worded order, the court asserted that regulation of social media was the “need of the hour” and that foreign-owned platforms “cannot be allowed to work unregulated in India.” The bench was firm in its stance, stating that every company wishing to operate in the country “needs to know this.”
Delving into the constitutional aspects, the court clarified that the protection of free speech under Article 19 is a right available only to Indian citizens and cannot be invoked by foreign entities like X. “American jurisprudence cannot be transported to Indian judicial thought process,” the court remarked, criticising the platform’s reluctance to comply with Indian takedown orders while adhering to US laws.
The High Court also raised questions about the unchecked influence of algorithms in shaping public discourse, asking, “Does the menace of social media need to be curbed and regulated?” In its concluding observations, the bench delivered a clear message to all digital platforms, stating that “Indian marketplaces cannot be treated as a playground” and that no social media company can claim exemption from the laws of the land. X’s decision to appeal now escalates the confrontation over the balance between platform liability, user expression, and government oversight.
