In January, an old post on Elon Musk's social media platform X caught the attention of police in Satara, Maharashtra. The post, made in 2023 by an account with a few hundred followers, called a senior ruling-party politician "useless." Inspector Jitendra Shahane, in a confidential content-removal notice to X, claimed the post could trigger communal unrest. Despite the request, the post remains online.

This post is among hundreds cited in a lawsuit filed by X in March, challenging the Indian government's growing crackdown on online content under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. Since 2023, India has increased its control over digital platforms, allowing more officials to issue takedown requests directly through a government portal launched in October.

X argues that these actions are unconstitutional, claiming they violate free speech by giving broad powers to government agencies and local police to suppress criticism of public officials. The Indian government, however, maintains that these measures are necessary to curb illegal content and hold platforms accountable. It asserts that tech giants like Meta and Google support this framework, though both companies declined to comment.

Elon Musk, who describes himself as a staunch defender of free speech, has clashed with governments worldwide over content moderation demands. His legal challenge in India’s Karnataka High Court targets the very foundation of the country's expanded internet censorship policies. India is one of X’s largest markets, and Musk has previously praised the country’s economic potential, citing personal interactions with Modi encouraging him to invest there.

A Reuters investigation, based on 2,500 pages of confidential court documents and interviews with seven police officers, reveals the inner workings of India's takedown system, exposing its opacity and the wide range of content — from misinformation to political satire — targeted for removal. While some takedown orders addressed false information, others sought to block news reports, political cartoons mocking Modi, and posts criticizing local politicians. In one case, Sonu Sood, a BJP member, posted an image of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in an astronaut suit. Police demanded its removal, citing national security concerns, though the post remains live.

Inspector Shahane, who had flagged the 2023 post in Satara, said he couldn't recall the specifics but explained that police sometimes request platforms to block viral content they find offensive. Previously, only India’s IT and Information & Broadcasting ministries could issue takedown orders on limited grounds such as national security or public order. But in 2023, the IT ministry expanded these powers, allowing all central and state agencies, including police, to demand content removal under any applicable law. Non-compliance could strip platforms of legal immunity, making them liable for the content posted by users.

In October 2024, the government launched a portal called "Sahyog" (meaning collaboration) to streamline takedown requests. X refused to join this system, referring to it as a “censorship portal,” and filed a lawsuit challenging the legal foundation of both the portal and the expanded takedown rules. In court filings, X argued that many of the takedown demands targeted satirical content and legitimate criticism of the ruling party, reflecting an abuse of power to silence free expression. Free speech advocates have voiced similar concerns, warning that the government's increased control over online content is designed to stifle dissent. Subramaniam Vincent, Director of Journalism and Media Ethics at Santa Clara University, questioned whether the government should unilaterally decide what qualifies as unlawful content, arguing that the executive branch should not be both judge and enforcer in such matters. Between March 2024 and June 2025, court documents revealed that central and state agencies ordered X to remove around 1,400 posts or accounts.