Bengaluru: Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, announced it will appeal a Karnataka state court ruling that allows millions of police officers to submit content takedown requests through a confidential online portal named Sahyog. X cited concerns over freedom of expression and said it plans to challenge the order in court.

The Karnataka High Court had dismissed X’s legal challenge earlier this week, rejecting the platform’s argument that India’s updated content removal laws amounted to unconstitutional censorship. Judge M Nagaprasanna ruled that platforms operating in India must comply with the country’s laws, noting that freedom comes with responsibility.

Since 2023, the Indian government has expanded the number of officials authorized to issue takedown requests directly to tech companies. X has criticized the system as overly broad and lacking oversight, while the government maintains it is necessary to prevent unlawful content, misinformation, and to maintain social harmony.

The legal dispute escalates amid Musk’s broader business plans in India, including the potential launches of Starlink and Tesla. The conflict has been ongoing since 2021, when X first resisted orders to block certain tweets, and resurfaced in July 2025 when the government temporarily blocked over 2,300 accounts in India, including Reuters’ official accounts. These accounts were later restored.

The outcome of this appeal could have significant implications for the operation of foreign tech companies in India, highlighting the ongoing tension between digital governance, freedom of expression, and national security concerns.