India Slams X for Calling Compliance Website a ‘Censorship Tool’

The Indian government refuted social media giant X’s (formerly Twitter) claim that India’s compliance reporting website acts as a “censorship tool.” Officials strongly rejected the accusation, calling it misleading and an attempt to misrepresent India’s legal framework.

X released a transparency report that stated India had the highest number of government takedown requests for content in 2023. Along with this, X criticized India’s compliance mechanism, suggesting the reporting system functions more as a means of suppressing free speech than enforcing lawful regulations.

India’s IT Ministry swiftly responded, calling X’s stance “irresponsible and uninformed.” Officials argue that the compliance system ensures digital platforms follow the law, particularly when it comes to national security, misinformation, and harmful content.

A senior IT Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated,“No country allows social media platforms to operate without accountability. Our laws are clear; platforms must comply with takedown requests that are lawful and necessary. Labeling this as ‘censorship’ tool is misleading.”

India maintains that its laws, such as the Information Technology Act, do not intend to silence dissent but rather stop the spread of hate speech, fake news, and illegal content. The government also pointed out that other democracies, including the U.S. and the EU, enforce similar regulations.

X has clashed with Indian authorities previously. The platform resisted takedown requests related to politically sensitive posts, which led to warnings of legal action.

X’s owner, Elon Musk, has also expressed concerns about government-imposed restrictions in various countries, often advocating for minimal content moderation. However, India insists that tech companies must respect local laws if they wish to operate within the country.

This legal confrontation arises as Elon Musk prepares to launch other ventures, such as Starlink and Tesla, in India. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for the regulation of online content and the operations of international tech companies within the country.

As the debate rages on, India is not backing down, and X finds itself in yet another global free speech battle.