Elon Musk's X Bigger Threat to Free Speech Than Indian Government: Centre

The Central Government has told the Karnataka High Court that Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter), is a bigger threat to free speech than the Indian government.

The Centre was responding to a plea filed by X Corp challenging several government orders to take down content, Bar and Bench reports. During the hearing, the government said that platforms like X are run by private companies and use algorithms that show users only certain types of content. This creates "echo chambers"—where users see only views they already agree with—and reduces the diversity of opinions.

The government argued that when these platforms ban or promote content, it affects people’s ability to express themselves freely. These actions are not regulated or transparent, making them more dangerous than any restriction the government may impose under the law.

Importantly, the Centre said that X Corp cannot claim protection under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to free speech, because it is not a citizen of India. The government also made it clear that foreign companies operating in India must follow Indian laws, including the Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2021.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) also clarified that platforms like X should not behave like law-making bodies themselves. “The government is accountable to Parliament and the people,” the Centre told the court, “but social media platforms are not accountable to anyone.”

The Centre’s comments come at a time when there is growing concern over how tech giants control information online. Critics say that the same platforms that claim to support free speech often suppress voices, especially when those voices challenge the platform's interests.

The Karnataka High Court will continue to hear the matter. The final decision could have a major impact on how global tech platforms operate in India, especially when it comes to following Indian rules on content moderation and user rights.

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