X cannot challenge the removal of user content: Govt to HC

THE CENTRE SAID THAT RESISTANCE FROM X TO COMPLY WITH TAKEDOWN ORDERS COULD RESULT IN THE PLATFORM LOSING 'SAFE HARBOUR' PROTECTION

- Ayesha Arvind

BENGALURU: The Union government has told the Karnataka high court that social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has no legal right to challenge the removal of user content, warning that any resistance to takedown orders could result in the platform losing its immunity from legal consequences under Indian law.

In a strongly worded submission, the Centre asserted that under the Indian legal framework, intermediaries like X do not have the right to solicit hosting or oppose the removal of content before a court of law and that any resistance from X to comply with such orders would result in the withdrawal of the "safe harbour" protection that shields it from legal liability for content posted by its users.

"The intermediary as per the scheme of the Information Technology (IT) Act has no right or locus, at all, to take up the case of its users against any orders passed by the competent authority under section 79 of the Act or else it loses its safe harbour protection," it said in its affidavit.