Social media platform X announced on Monday that it will appeal an Indian court order allowing over two million police officers to issue content takedown requests through a secretive portal called Sahyog. The High Court of Karnataka last week ruled against X’s challenge to India’s content removal system, stating there was no legal basis to quash it.
X criticized the portal, saying it allows officers to demand content removal based solely on allegations of illegality, without judicial review or due process, and threatens platforms with criminal liability for non-compliance. The company emphasized that it plans to appeal the ruling to defend free expression.
The announcement reflects ongoing tension between X and the Indian government, which has increasingly expanded internet policing since 2023. Authorities argue that the Sahyog system ensures accountability and tackles unlawful content online, while X and its owner Elon Musk, a vocal free-speech advocate, view the measures as censorship.