Social media platform X has announced plans to appeal a ruling by the High Court of Karnataka which upheld India’s government-run content removal system, Sahyog.
The company described the decision as a threat to free expression and vowed to continue its legal challenge.
In a statement issued on Monday, September 29, X said the ruling permits more than two million police officers across India to issue takedown requests through the Sahyog portal without judicial oversight.
The platform argued that the system allows content to be removed based solely on allegations of illegality, exposing social media companies to criminal liability if they fail to comply.
“We will appeal this order to defend free expression,” the company said, marking its first public response since the court dismissed its petition last week.
The Sahyog portal, launched in October 2023, enables law enforcement officers to file takedown requests directly to digital platforms.
The Indian government maintains that the system is necessary to curb unlawful content and promote accountability online.
However, rights groups and digital freedom advocates have raised concerns about the framework, warning that it could be used to suppress dissent and limit online speech.
X, owned by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has previously accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration of censorship and regulatory overreach.
The company’s legal challenge in India is among its most aggressive efforts globally to resist government-imposed content controls.
The dispute comes amid broader tensions between X and governments around the world over compliance with takedown orders.
In India, the case is expected to shape future debates on internet regulation and the limits of state power in the digital space.
