Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has reportedly filed an appeal against the Karnataka High Court’s ruling on the company’s plea challenging content takedown orders issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under Section 69A of the IT Act.
X Argues Against Unclear Parameters for Blocking Accounts
According to a filing accessed by Reuters, X, led by Elon Musk, argued that the court’s ruling could empower the Indian government to issue more blocking orders. The platform emphasized the need for “discernible parameters” that justify the blocking of an account rather than a specific post. In the absence of such parameters, the government’s power to censor future content remains “untrammeled.”
X- Background of the Legal Battle
The matter dates back to July 2022, when Twitter moved the Karnataka High Court to contest the takedown orders issued by the Indian government. However, last month, the court dismissed the appeal and imposed a fine of INR 50 Lakh on the platform for non-compliance.
Past Clashes Between Twitter and the Indian Government
This is not the first time the social media platform has faced conflicts with the Indian government. Under its former CEO, Jack Dorsey, the company was accused of defying Indian laws. In June, Dorsey revealed that Indian authorities threatened to shut down the platform’s offices if their demands were not met. On the other hand, the government accused Twitter of showing bias in curbing misinformation.
Legal Battle Amidst Tesla’s Potential Entry into India
The legal battle involving X coincides with Elon Musk’s interest in entering the Indian market with Tesla. Tesla is currently in discussions with the Indian government to establish a manufacturing plant. The appeal’s outcome could affect X’s operations and the regulatory environment for social media platforms in India.
Also Read The Latest News:
Government asserts sufficient provisions to tackle non-compliant offshore gaming platforms amidst 28% GST concerns
NITI Aayog recommends incentives for lithium-Ion battery processing and refining
