Why X Is Suing the Indian Government Over Censorship and How It Increases U.S. Pressure on Modi
On March 5, 2025, X, a popular social media platform owned by billionaire Elon Musk, filed a lawsuit against the Indian government. This legal action accuses India of trying to control and block online content in ways that X believes are unfair and against the country’s own laws. The lawsuit has created a big stir because it comes at a time when the United States, led by President Donald Trump, is also putting pressure on India over trade and other issues. Let’s break this down step by step to understand why this is happening and what it means.
What Is the Lawsuit About?
X says that the Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has created a new system to remove content from the internet that it doesn’t like. This system is called a “censorship portal,” launched by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs in 2024. Through this portal, many government officials—including local police, state authorities, and even the Railways Ministry—can quickly order social media companies like X to take down posts, pictures, or videos. X argues that this is illegal because it doesn’t follow India’s strict rules about when and how content can be blocked.
In India, the law says content can only be removed if it threatens the country’s safety, public order, or sovereignty (its independence as a nation). These decisions are supposed to be made carefully by senior officials, not just anyone in the government. X claims that the new portal skips these rules, letting thousands of officials make demands without proper checks. For example, in February 2025, the Railways Ministry asked X to remove hundreds of posts about a deadly stampede at a train station during a religious event called the Kumbh Mela. This event embarrassed Modi’s government, which had promised to keep people safe. X says these kinds of orders are unfair and hurt free speech—the right to say what you think online.
X’s lawsuit, filed in a court in Karnataka, a state in southern India, asks the court to stop this portal and protect the company from what it calls “unrestrained censorship.” The case was first heard in mid-March 2025, but no final decision has been made yet. It will be heard again on March 27, 2025.
Why Does X Care So Much?
X is a platform where millions of people share their thoughts every day. If governments can easily force it to remove posts, it might lose users who want to speak freely. This could also hurt X’s business, as the company makes money from ads and user activity. Elon Musk, who bought X (then called Twitter) in 2022 and rebranded it, has often said he believes in free speech. He doesn’t want his platform to be a place where governments can silence people without good reason.
This isn’t the first time X has clashed with India. Back in 2021, when it was still called Twitter, the Indian government ordered it to block posts about farmers protesting against new laws. X didn’t want to at first, but it eventually followed the orders after facing threats of fines and jail time for its workers. Even then, X took the issue to court, showing it’s willing to fight for what it believes in. The 2025 lawsuit is a bigger step in that fight.
Elon Musk, owner of X, has been vocal about protecting free speech online.
How Does This Connect to the United States?
The timing of X’s lawsuit makes it even more interesting. Right now, the United States and India are talking about trade—how they buy and sell things like cars, food, and technology. President Donald Trump, who returned to power in January 2025, has promised to put new taxes (called tariffs) on goods coming from countries like India unless they make deals that favor the U.S. Modi’s government wants to avoid these taxes, so it’s been negotiating with the U.S. to keep trade friendly.
Elon Musk is a close ally of Trump. After Trump won the election in 2024, Musk became one of his advisors. This connection matters because when Musk’s company, X, challenges India, it’s not just a business fight—it’s also a signal that the U.S. might not be happy with India’s actions. Experts say Modi’s government will notice this. One analyst, Harsh Pant, told a newspaper that India might not want to upset Trump’s team by fighting too hard against Musk’s X.
At the same time, Musk has big plans in India. His other companies, Tesla (which makes electric cars) and Starlink (which provides internet from satellites), are trying to start working there. In February 2025, Modi met Musk in Washington, D.C., and soon after, Tesla opened new showrooms in India, while Starlink signed deals with two big Indian telecom companies, Jio and Bharti Airtel. But these plans need India’s approval, and this lawsuit could make things tricky. If India gets tough with X, it might slow down Musk’s other projects.
Why Is India Censoring More?
Under Modi, who has been prime minister since 2014, India has tightened its control over what people say online. The government says it needs to do this to stop lies, violence, or threats to the country. For example, during the Kumbh Mela stampede, posts criticizing the government spread fast on X, and officials wanted them gone to avoid more anger. But groups that protect digital rights, like Access Now, say India is going too far. They call it “digital authoritarianism,” meaning the government is using technology to control people instead of letting them speak freely.
In the past, U.S. tech companies like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube often agreed to India’s demands quietly. But X’s lawsuit is different—it’s loud and public. Raman Chima, a digital rights expert, said this is the first time in years that a big American tech company has pushed back so hard against India’s censorship.
What Does This Mean for Modi?
Modi is in a tough spot. He wants India to look strong and in charge, but he also wants good relations with the U.S. and companies like Tesla and Starlink, which could bring jobs and money to India. If he fights X too hard, it might upset Trump and Musk, making trade talks harder. But if he gives in, some in India might think he’s weak.
The lawsuit also shines a light on how India handles free speech. Many people, both in India and around the world, are watching to see if the country’s courts will protect online freedom or side with the government’s push for control. The outcome could change how social media works in India, a country with over a billion people and a fast-growing internet population.
What’s Next?
The court in Karnataka will hear the case again on March 27, 2025. Until then, X will keep running in India, but it might have to follow some of the government’s orders to avoid trouble. Meanwhile, the U.S. and India will keep negotiating over trade, with Musk’s moves adding extra pressure.
This fight is about more than just X and India—it’s about how governments and tech companies share power in the digital age. For now, Elon Musk is standing up to Modi’s government, and the world is waiting to see who wins.