The legal confrontation between Elon Musk’s X platform (formerly Twitter) and the Indian government is escalating as the company challenges what it calls unconstitutional internet censorship in India. The issue began in March 2025 when X filed a lawsuit in the Karnataka High Court, contesting hundreds of takedown orders issued by Indian officials. According to the platform, these orders infringe on free speech rights and reflect a broader clampdown on online dissent.
A key element in the dispute is a resurfaced 2023 post where a small X user called a BJP politician “useless.” Although minor, the post drew an official takedown notice from an inspector in Maharashtra, citing the potential to spark communal tension. The post remains online and is now part of the evidence in X’s lawsuit.
Since 2023, India has expanded the pool of officials allowed to issue takedown requests through a centralized portal. This change means thousands of police officers and civil servants now have the authority to demand content removal—previously limited to the Ministries of Electronics and Information Technology and Information and Broadcasting. The expansion has triggered alarm among digital rights advocates, who warn that such powers can be misused to suppress political dissent and critical voices.
Elon Musk, known for his “free speech absolutist” stance, has challenged similar censorship attempts in other countries like Brazil, Australia, and the United States. With India being one of X’s largest user bases, this lawsuit could set a major precedent.
In its petition, X accuses the Modi government of using national security and public order as a pretext to silence legitimate political criticism. Meanwhile, Indian officials have defended the content moderation framework, claiming it’s essential for maintaining social harmony and that major tech firms, including Meta and Google, support the initiative.
