Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit, claiming the government has unlawfully expanded censorship to allow the easier removal of online content and empowered "countless" government officials to execute such orders.

The lawsuit and the allegations mark an escalation in an ongoing legal dispute between X and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi's over how New Delhi orders content should be taken down. This move also comes amidst Musk’s ongoing efforts to secure market access for Tesla Inc. and Starlink in India.

In the court filing that was filed early this month, X accused India's IT Ministry of asking other departments to use a government website launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs to issue content blocking orders and mandate social media companies to join the websites as well.

X claims that this protocol goes against the nation's legal safeguards on content removal that require such orders to be issued in cases such as harm to sovereignty or public order, with strict oversight from top officials.

X adds that this website provides the agency unlimited power over the censorship of information India, saying that it seeks to quash the directive.

The case was only picked up by the Indian media yesterday, and it was reported that the case was briefly heard earlier this week by a judge in the High Court of southern Karnataka state but no final decision was reached.

U.S and the India locking heads

Musk’s legal challenge highlights the growing friction between global technology companies and India’s nationalist government.

Over the past few years, Delhi has introduced sweeping regulations on independent news creators on social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, significantly expanding the government's powers to regulate digital media content.

The lawsuit also coincides with escalating U.S.-India trade tensions. President Donald Trump recently announced plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on Indian imports starting April 2, criticizing the country for its high duties on U.S. goods.

While India represents a relatively small market for some U.S. firms, its position as the world’s most populous nation—with approximately 700 million smartphone users—makes it a key strategic opportunity for many global tech and automotive companies.

For this reason, Musk is actively working to launch Starlink’s satellite internet service in India, pending regulatory approvals. In a positive development for Starlink, India’s telecommunications minister told Bloomberg News this week that satellite internet could play a crucial role in connecting the country’s rural areas.

Meanwhile, Tesla is also preparing to enter the Indian market, with plans to ship a few thousand vehicles to a port near Mumbai in the coming months. This marks the electric carmaker’s long-awaited debut in the country.

Government’s Response and Legal Precedents

India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to comment on the lawsuit, while the country’s top tech ministry official declined to make a statement, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.

In 2023, prior to Musk’s acquisition of X, the Karnataka High Court had fined the platform and ordered it to comply with state-mandated takedown requests.