X sues Indian government over alleged online censorship
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government. The company claims that India is unlawfully censoring online content. This legal action comes as Elon Musk, the owner of X, is looking to expand his business interests in India. The lawsuit was submitted in Karnataka on March 5. It argues that the Indian government is blocking content using a procedure that bypasses the legal requirements set by India's Information Technology Act. Under this act, officials are supposed to seek permission from the judiciary before censoring online content. However, a new mechanism allows for content removal through simple notifications from government officials, which X argues leads to arbitrary censorship. The Indian government defends its actions, stating that the law applies to everyone equally. It argues that the measures in place are necessary to maintain national security and public order. X's claims have raised concerns about censorship practices in India, where critics say freedom of expression is under threat. This lawsuit was made public on March 20, and the next court hearing is scheduled for March 27. While X's chatbot, Grok, has stirred controversy by making critical comments about Prime Minister Modi, experts say this issue is separate from the lawsuit. Observers say the lawsuit is unlikely to harm Musk’s business prospects in India. His investments in sectors like telecom and renewable energy give him significant leverage in the country. Musk’s willingness to engage with the Indian market could help soften any potential backlash from the legal dispute.