Date: March 21, 2025

X vs Indian Government: Allegations of IT Act Misuse

X Challenges India’s Use of IT Act in Karnataka High Court

The microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) has filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court, questioning the Union government’s application of Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act. X alleges that the authorities are misusing the law to block online content without following proper legal protocols.

X Claims Government is Illegally Blocking Content

X argues that Indian government officials are bypassing due process and implementing an unauthorized content-blocking system.

What Does the IT Act Say?

Under the Information Technology Act, social media platforms like X must comply with government requests to remove or block content. Failing to do so can result in the loss of their legal protection under Section 79(3)(b).

However, X claims that the authorities are misapplying this provision, sidestepping Section 69A, which outlines a clear legal process for content blocking. The platform referenced the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in the Shreya Singhal case, which emphasized the need for proper procedures before restricting online content.

X Fears Damage to Business & User Trust

Elon Musk’s X warns that excessive content blocking could harm its business model and erode user trust. Since X thrives on user-generated content, it believes that arbitrary censorship could affect credibility and engagement on the platform.

X Opposes Indian Government’s ‘Sahyog’ Portal

Alongside challenging the IT Act’s misuse, X is also resisting pressure to join ‘Sahyog’, a government-controlled portal under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre.

Why is X Against Sahyog?

🔹 X labels Sahyog as a ‘censorship portal’ with no legal basis
🔹 The government is allegedly pressuring companies to appoint special officers for this platform
🔹 X claims it has already complied with India’s 2021 IT Guidelines by appointing grievance and compliance officers

High Court’s Response & Government Stand

During a hearing on March 17, Justice M. Nagaprasanna advised X to return to court if the government takes serious action against the company.

For now, the Indian government has assured the court that no punitive action has been taken against X for refusing to join Sahyog.