Elon Musk’s X Corp has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government in the Karnataka High Court, challenging the use of Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act. X claims this section is being misused to enforce content blocking through the Sahyog Portal, a government tool X calls an unlawful censorship system.

The company argues it violates free speech and Supreme Court precedents, like the 2015 Shreya Singhal ruling, by bypassing the stricter, more transparent process of Section 69A.

The Indian government counters that Section 79(3)(b) is vital for removing illegal content quickly—within 36 hours of notification—to protect public order and national security. The case, filed on March 5, 2025, had a hearing on March 17, with the next scheduled for March 27. No punitive actions have been taken against X yet, and the court has allowed X to return if that changes.

This legal battle could redefine how social media platforms operate in India, balancing government oversight with free expression. It’s part of a broader clash between tech giants and regulators worldwide.

The dispute centres around the government’s use of Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology (IT) Act and the “Sahyog Portal,” which X claims bypasses legal safeguards established under Section 69A, a framework upheld by India’s Supreme Court for blocking online content. X argues that this approach undermines free expression and creates an unregulated censorship mechanism.

This legal action follows previous tensions between X and the Indian government, including a 2022 challenge to takedown orders under Section 69A. Additionally, the government has recently raised concerns about X’s AI chatbot, Grok, over its controversial responses, adding another layer to the ongoing friction.

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