Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a legal challenge filed by X Corp (formerly Twitter) against the Indian government’s Sahyog portal, ruling in favour of digital content regulation and reinforcing the government’s authority to manage online platforms.
In a judgment delivered this week, the High Court upheld the legitimacy of the Sahyog portal, an online mechanism designed to issue content takedown requests to intermediaries, including social media companies. The platform has been developed by the Central government to streamline the process of addressing unlawful or harmful content on the internet.
Court: India Not a Playground for Global Platforms
The court made it clear that social media intermediaries cannot claim absolute freedom in India’s digital ecosystem. It observed that no platform should treat the Indian market as a “mere playground” and highlighted the importance of regulatory oversight and cooperative engagement between tech companies and Indian citizens.
“The online space must not be left unregulated,” the bench observed, adding that cooperative mechanisms such as Sahyog are critical in ensuring content moderation in line with Indian law.
X Corp Challenged Legality of the Portal
X Corp had approached the court arguing that the Sahyog portal facilitates content blocking under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which, according to the company, circumvents the procedural safeguards under Section 69A. The petition relied heavily on the precedent set in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, where the Supreme Court laid down guidelines for content blocking in India.
The challenge was sparked after the Ministry of Railways issued takedown orders through the Sahyog portal in connection with social media posts following a stampede incident at New Delhi Railway Station.
Centre Defends Portal, Questions Legal Standing
Defending its position, the Central government argued that Sahyog is a technological tool for efficient enforcement, built to handle illegal content swiftly. It maintained that the portal does not bypass any legal framework but rather enhances administrative efficiency.
Moreover, the Centre questioned X Corp’s locus standi, asserting that as a foreign entity incorporated in the United States, the company cannot claim protection under Articles 14, 19, or 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee rights to Indian citizens and entities.
Petition Reserved in July, Dismissed in September
The case was argued by senior advocates representing both sides, with the matter reserved for judgment on July 29, 2025. The High Court’s decision to dismiss the petition this week now clears the way for the continued use of the Sahyog portal as an official tool for issuing takedown orders to intermediaries.
The ruling marks a key moment in India’s digital governance journey, underlining the judiciary’s support for government-led content moderation frameworks. It also sends a strong signal to global digital platforms about the importance of compliance with local regulations in one of the world’s largest online markets.
