X to challenge Indian court's ruling on 'arbitrary takedown orders'

X Will Appeal Indian Court Ruling Allowing ‘Arbitrary Takedown Orders’

X is set to challenge a controversial ruling from the Karnataka High Court that permits extensive takedown requests without due process. The company expressed significant concern over the ruling, which empowers police officers to issue arbitrary takedown orders via a less-than-transparent online platform known as Sahyog.

The Sahyog portal is claimed to automate the delivery of government notices to major content platforms like X and Facebook. However, X has criticized it as a “censorship portal,” asserting that “millions” of government officials, including local police, can demand content removal based on vague allegations of illegality—bypassing the need for judicial review. X stated that this puts platforms at risk of criminal liability should they fail to comply.

In a statement, X emphasized, “The Sahyog enables officers to order content removal based solely on allegations of ‘illegality,’ threatening free expression.” The company aims to appeal the court’s decision to uphold freedom of speech and protect its users from undue censorship.

This legal challenge is not X’s first encounter with the Indian government regarding content moderation policies. The platform has a history of contesting orders demanding the removal of specific posts and accounts dating back to 2022 and 2024.

As the debate surrounding content moderation continues, many are left wondering about the implications of such arbitrary takedown policies on free expression in India. What do you think about this ruling and its potential impact? Share your thoughts below!