Elon Musk-owned social media platform X has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government, challenging its increasing censorship measures. The case was filed on March 5 in the Karnataka High Court, and the matter came to light on Thursday.
X alleges that India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has imposed excessive restrictions on social media content, which the platform considers an infringement on digital freedom. The government recently launched a website where any government office can issue takedown notices to block social media posts. X argues that this system enables extreme censorship and allows the government to remove content it finds unfavorable.
A hearing on the case was held this week, with the next session scheduled for March 27.
Meanwhile, Musk has recently announced plans to expand Tesla and Starlink operations in India. While agreements have been made with Jio and Bharti Airtel for Starlink services, a final deal with the Indian government has yet to be reached.
Experts believe this legal battle could complicate the ongoing trade tensions between India and the U.S., as Washington has announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods starting April 2.