Elon Musk’s X Challenges India Over Content Takedown Orders

Elon Musk’s social media platform X is intensifying its legal battle with the Indian government over alleged excessive content takedown requests. During a court hearing on Tuesday in Karnataka, X’s legal counsel, K.G. Raghavan, argued that a growing number of government officials, including from unrelated departments, are issuing takedown orders through what the company describes as a "censorship portal." Raghavan criticized this broad authority, citing a recent notice from the Indian Railways demanding removal of a video showing a car driving on train tracks—content X argued was newsworthy.

He warned of the dangers posed if “every Tom, Dick, and Harry” officer is permitted to censor online content, prompting a sharp rebuke from India’s Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta. Mehta defended the officials as “statutory functionaries” and asserted that social media platforms like X cannot expect to operate without regulatory oversight.

The Indian government maintains that the disputed portal merely facilitates compliance with digital due diligence requirements, not censorship. However, the case underscores the ongoing tension between Musk’s platform and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. X, formerly Twitter, previously clashed with the government in 2021 over its refusal to block certain tweets, ultimately complying but continuing to fight the matter in court.

India remains a key growth market for Musk, with major plans to expand Starlink and Tesla operations in the country. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, the outcome of this case could shape how global tech platforms navigate content moderation and free expression in one of the world’s largest digital economies.

Neither X nor India’s IT ministry responded to media inquiries regarding the latest court proceedings.