X says Sahyog allows arbitrary takedown orders by millions of police officers.
Karnataka court dismissed X’s challenge; platform vows to appeal.
Case could set precedent for online speech regulation in India’s vast market.
Elon Musk’s social media platform X has said it will appeal a recent ruling by an Indian court that dismissed its challenge against the government’s new content removal system. The company argues that the online portal, known as Sahyog, enables censorship and undermines free speech. In a statement released on Monday morning, X said it was “deeply concerned by the recent order from the Karnataka court in India, which will allow millions of police officers to issue arbitrary takedown orders through a secretive online portal called the Sahyog.” The platform described the mechanism as a “new regime” with “no basis in law” that violates the constitutional rights of Indian citizens.
Survey“We will appeal this order to defend free expression,” the company added.
X originally filed the lawsuit in March 2025, targeting the government’s decision to implement Sahyog. The platform argued that the system effectively creates “an impermissible parallel mechanism” that leads to unrestrained censorship of online information.
The portal is designed to streamline content removal requests by allowing government agencies and police officials to issue takedown notices directly to intermediaries like X. Authorities defend the system, saying it is necessary to handle the growing flood of unlawful or harmful online content.
According to the government, Sahyog is not arbitrary but an automated process for relaying official notices to platforms in compliance with existing Indian laws.
This is not the first time that Musk’s company has had disputes with governments over content moderation and free speech. In August 2024, X got banned in Brazil for failing to appoint a local representative, as required by law. The ban was lifted two months later after the company agreed to block accounts spreading misinformation, set up a local office, and pay a fine of about $5.3 million.
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In Australia, X faced legal trouble earlier this year after a judge ordered the platform to restrict access to a video of a stabbing attack at a Sydney church. Musk accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of censorship, prompting a sharp response: “This guy is showing his arrogance, a billionaire who thinks he’s above Australian law.”
With an estimated 25 million users in India, X’s battle with the government over Sahyog could set a major precedent for how online speech is regulated in one of the world’s largest internet markets.
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Himani Jha
Himani Jha is a tech news writer at Digit. Passionate about smartphones and consumer technology, she has contributed to leading publications such as Times Network, Gadgets 360, and Hindustan Times Tech for the past five years. When not immersed in gadgets, she enjoys exploring the vibrant culinary scene, discovering new cafes and restaurants, and indulging in her love for fine literature and timeless music. View Full Profile
