Indian Government Challenges X’s ‘Safe Harbor’ Defense on Unlawful Content

The Indian government is taking a firm stance against unlawful content on social media platforms. In a recent submission to the Karnataka High Court, the Centre argued that Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) cannot shield itself from accountability for unlawful content by invoking the ‘safe harbor’ clause of the IT Act.

Government Rejects ‘Free Speech’ Argument for Unlawful Content

The government’s argument centers on the idea that the ‘safe harbor’ provision, which protects platforms from liability for user-generated content, cannot be used as a justification for allowing the spread of unlawful material. They argue that while free speech is important, it doesn’t supersede the need to prevent the spread of harmful content.

Karnataka High Court to Decide on X’s Accountability

The Karnataka High Court is now tasked with determining the scope of X’s responsibility in moderating content and whether the ‘safe harbor’ clause applies in this context. This case could have significant implications for how social media platforms operate in India and their responsibility for the content shared by their users.