Centre's Sahyog portal 'nothing but a censorship tool', X tells Karnataka high court

NEW DELHI: Microblogging platform X's petition in the

Karnataka high court

seeks an order restraining the respondents, including various govt departments, from "coercive or prejudicial action" against

X Corp

, its representatives and employees pertaining to content under any law other than Section 69A of the

IT Act

, read with the procedure mandated by guidelines for blocking online information.
"Unlawful or unjustified blocking orders cause harm to the X platform and its ability to operate. The issuance of information blocking orders without following due process of law, and in violation of the IT Act and the Constitution, aggrieves X, violates X's Article 14 rights, and detrimentally impacts its business," the petition states.
"Ultra vires actions (also) violate X's rights under Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) and Article 301 of the Constitution, which protects the right to conduct business and trade without unreasonable govt interference or arbitrary restriction."
According to the platform, the text of Section 79(3)(b) establishes it is an exemption provision - and not a power - to issue orders blocking information under IT Act.

The petition labels the

Sahyog portal

set up by the Union govt as "nothing but a censorship" tool. "The portal is a colourable exercise of power and violates Articles 162 and 246 of the Constitution," it states.
The Centre is now looking into both the issues "separately, and seriously," sources said.
On Grok, the Centre has "opened dialogue with representatives of the xAI platform" (which has introduced Grok), seeking details about how it is framing the responses, and also about the queries to which answers are being sought.
"We are in touch with their representatives, and have sought details. This includes information about what data is being used, how are the responses being created, and other related issues. Govt is studying the matter," one of the source said on the matter.
Importantly, the source said the govt - which is keeping a tab on the responses - is also looking into the role of those who are posing questions to the platform that may lead to inflammatory responses.
"There is no confirmed view as yet, but if the platform does not pull down the content, can there be action against it as well as the person or user who originally generated the query with an aim to get unlawful or mischievous responses? You (platform) can be prosecuted under Indian laws along with the person who posted it. If it's unlawful, govt will punish."
The source further added, "If people deliberately provoke, then we will have to look into it."
On the issue of X approaching the court, the source said that the govt will be filing an affidavit on the legal challenge.