X Clarifies in Delhi High Court: Takedown Notices Targeting Indian Free Speech Groups Were Fake
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
NEW DELHI — Social media platform X has informed the Delhi High Court that purported police takedown orders demanding the removal of online accounts belonging to two of India's leading digital rights organisations were entirely fraudulent.
According to Reuters, the disclosure came during court proceedings as X revealed that an internal investigation confirmed the takedown requests—ostensibly issued by the Delhi Police—had been submitted illegitimately by someone impersonating law enforcement.
Fraudulent Notices Triggered Scrutiny
The controversy erupted after prominent digital advocacy groups, the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) and the Software Freedom Law Centre, India (SFLC.in), disclosed that they had received notices demanding the deletion of their accounts and specific posts.
The fraudulent filings alleged that the organisations had defamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organisation aligned with India's ruling establishment. The notices were submitted through X's online reporting mechanisms, invoking stringent Indian statutory content removal timelines.
Legal Proceedings and Platform Response
During the court hearing, legal counsel representing X confirmed that the platform's review determined the communications were not authentic. X has already notified law enforcement regarding the impersonation attempt and assured the court that no action would be taken against the targeted accounts based on the bogus reports.
The legal challenge, spearheaded by senior advocates representing the digital rights groups, highlights growing concerns over the weaponisation of reporting portals and digital censorship mechanisms against civil society organisations in India.
