Key Takeaways
- X Corp appeals Karnataka High Court ruling that upheld government’s Sahyog portal for content blocking.
- The legal battle centers on interpretation of IT Act, 2000, specifically Sections 69A and 79(3)(b).
- The outcome will shape digital governance and free speech rights for all online platforms in India.
X Corp has challenged a Karnataka High Court ruling that validated the Indian government’s authority to issue content-blocking orders through the Sahyog portal. The company filed a writ appeal seeking to overturn the September 2025 judgment that dismissed its original petition.
Legal Framework Dispute
The core conflict involves interpreting the Information Technology Act, 2000. X Corp argues that mandatory content blocking can only occur through Section 69A’s detailed due-process framework, which includes written reasons, notice to affected parties, and committee review—safeguards established in the Supreme Court’s Shreya Singhal case.
Parallel Censorship Mechanism
X Corp contends the Sahyog portal creates an improper “parallel censorship mechanism” by allowing various authorities to issue takedown notices under broader Section 79(3)(b) provisions. The company maintains this bypasses necessary procedural discipline and judicial oversight, enabling “millions of officers” to demand arbitrary content removal.
Court’s Defense of Sahyog Portal
Justice M Nagaprasanna’s September ruling rejected these arguments, describing the portal as a facilitation mechanism for “public good” to streamline cybercrime cooperation. The court asserted social media cannot exist in “anarchic freedom” and speech must face reasonable restrictions.
Constitutional Rights Question
The single-judge bench noted X Corp, as a foreign company, cannot invoke Article 19(1)(a) freedom of speech rights—a position the company disputes. The appeal will revisit this constitutional standing alongside intermediary liability and government power limits in online content regulation.
The appeal’s outcome will critically define digital governance and free expression rights for all intermediaries in India’s digital space .
