Elon Musk’s X Sues Indian Government Over Alleged Online Censorship

Elon Musk’s recent meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, D.C., was described as “very good,” with discussions focusing on artificial intelligence, space exploration, and sustainable development. However, despite Musk’s efforts to strengthen ties with India, his social media platform X has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government, alleging unlawful online censorship.

Filed in Karnataka’s High Court on March 5, the lawsuit challenges the Indian government’s use of a parallel mechanism to block content under Section 79 (3)(b) of the IT Act. Unlike Section 69A, which requires judicial review, this new rule allows government officials to demand content removal through the “Sahyog” portal without oversight. X argues that this system enables arbitrary censorship, citing an instance where India’s railway ministry ordered the removal of over 200 videos related to a stampede in New Delhi. Legal experts believe X’s claims hold merit, as the new mechanism bypasses existing legal safeguards.

While some speculated that X’s lawsuit may be linked to controversies surrounding its AI chatbot, Grok 3, this does not appear to be the case. Although Grok’s responses, particularly those critical of Modi, have drawn government scrutiny, X’s legal challenge predates these issues. Experts suggest Musk’s business interests in India, including plans to launch Starlink and Tesla, give him significant leverage, making his legal battle with the Indian government an important test of online free speech in the country.