The Indian government has strongly criticized Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, for labeling its online compliance website as a “censorship portal.” This dispute marks an escalation in the ongoing legal battle between X and the Modi administration concerning content moderation.The core of the disagreement revolves around a government-initiated website designed to streamline notifications to tech companies about harmful online content.
X has filed a lawsuit in the southern state of Karnataka, challenging the legality of this website, claiming it grants excessive censorship powers to government officials.
In court documents reviewed by Reuters, the Ministry of Information Technology condemned X’s terminology, stating that the company’s “groundless concern of censorship” was “unfortunate and condemnable.”
The Indian government maintains that the website’s purpose is to ensure swift notification of due diligence obligations, denying allegations of it being a tool for widespread censorship.
This legal confrontation occurs as Elon Musk’s other ventures, Starlink and Tesla, are poised for potential expansion within the Indian market, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. X, on the other hand, is arguing that the indian government is over reaching its power in regards to online content moderation.
The dispute highlights the growing tension between governments and tech companies over online content regulation, particularly in a large and rapidly growing digital market like India.
