Indian Court Dismisses X’s Challenge to Content Removal Rules
Date: September 23, 2025
Category: Current Affairs | Polity | Law
News in Focus
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition filed by social media platform X (formerly Twitter) challenging the Indian government’s new content removal mechanism. The court upheld the government’s power to regulate online platforms under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, thereby strengthening the Centre’s authority in controlling unlawful or harmful content.
Highlights
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The petition by X sought to quash the enhanced content removal system introduced by the government.
The High Court ruled that the right to freedom of speech (Article 19(1)(a)) is subject to reasonable restrictions as per Article 19(2) of the Constitution.
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The decision reinforces the government’s regulatory powers in tackling misinformation, hate speech, and threats to national security.
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The judgment is also seen as a precedent for future disputes involving digital rights vs. state regulation.
Possible Mains Question
Q. “Examine the constitutional balance between freedom of expression and state regulation in the context of digital platforms. Discuss with reference to recent judgments.”