Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has announced plans to appeal a recent ruling by the Karnataka High Court that upheld the Indian bgaming slots government’s controversial content removal system, Sahyog. The court’s decision allows millions of police officers across India to issue content takedown requests through the Sahyog portal without judicial oversight, raising concerns about potential overreach and the protection of free speech.

The Sahyog portal, launched in October 2024 by the Ministry of Home Affairs, enables police and authorized agencies to directly request content takedowns from social media platforms based solely on allegations of illegality, bypassing existing legal mechanisms under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. X argues that this system threatens free expression and imposes criminal liability on platforms for non-compliance.

In its petition, X contended that the Sahyog portal lacks transparency and due process, circumventing the procedural safeguards established under Section 69A, which allows the central government to issue content blocking orders on specific grounds such as national security or public order, and mandates a structured process involving a review committee, written orders, and hearings. The court, however, dismissed X’s concerns, ruling that social media content cannot be left unregulated in the name of free speech and describing the Sahyog portal as an “instrument of public good.”

The court also emphasized that the right to freedom of speech under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution applies only to Indian citizens and not to foreign companies like X. This ruling has significant implications for how international tech companies operate within India, especially in the context of content regulation and compliance with local laws.

X has expressed deep concern over the court’s decision, stating that it will appeal the ruling to defend free expression. The company argues that the Sahyog portal enables arbitrary censorship and undermines due process, and that the court’s dismissal of its concerns is unjust. As the legal battle continues, the tech industry and civil society await further developments in this high-stakes case.