Elon Musk's X challenges India's takedown orders in Karnataka High Court

Elon Musk-backed social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has taken the Indian government to court, alleging misuse of takedown powers and seeking judicial protection against what it calls “mischief” by the Centre. The Karnataka High Court has agreed to hear the case on July 8.

At the heart of the dispute is a takedown order issued by the Railway Ministry, which asked X to remove posts related to a viral video showing a woman driving a car on railway tracks. X has argued that the video constitutes news and public interest content, not unlawful material.

X’s counsel claimed that takedown orders are being issued indiscriminately by “any Tom, Dick, and Harry officer,” with little oversight or justification. The platform argued that such directives bypass key safeguards, violate due process, and threaten the right to free speech.

In a show of support, the Association of Digital Media Houses has also moved the Karnataka High Court, arguing that it is content creators—rather than large tech platforms—who face the brunt of these orders.

The group said creators should be heard before such content is taken down, adding that arbitrary censorship undermines digital journalism and free expression.

The Centre has opposed the digital publishers’ plea, contending that a global corporation like X does not require additional protection. However, X has welcomed the intervention by Indian digital publishers, positioning the case as one that could shape the future of online speech and government regulation in India.

The High Court will hear arguments from all parties when the matter comes up on July 8.