Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) files petition against the Indian government in the Karnataka High Court, alleging misuse of the IT Act and violation of free speech.
Elon Musk: X, the social media company owned by prominent American businessman Elon Musk, has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government in the Karnataka High Court. In its petition, X expressed concerns regarding the use of Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, characterizing it as a violation of Supreme Court rulings. The company argues that this section allows the central government to order the blocking of content on social media platforms without due process, impacting freedom of online expression.
X's petition further states that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has directed several central and state ministries, along with police authorities, to issue information blocking orders under Section 79(3)(b), bypassing the Section 69A procedure.
Central Government's Response
Following the filing of the lawsuit, the central government responded, stating its commitment to following due process and emphasizing that social media platforms must abide by the law. The government maintains that these actions are in the interest of maintaining law and order and national security.
The Issue of Freedom of Expression
X contends that such regulations weaken the right to free expression, potentially jeopardizing democracy. According to X, the government's actions are impacting the open environment of the internet and social media, leading to increased content censorship.
