Government Clarifies Position on Grok and X Amid Legal Dispute
In a recent development, the Government of India has confirmed that it has “not sent any notice” to Grok or X, amidst ongoing discussions regarding potential violations of Indian laws. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) stated that officials are engaging with representatives from X to ascertain the specific legal infractions, according to the news agency PTI.
Elon Musk’s X Takes Legal Action
This clarification comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed by X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, against the central government. The lawsuit alleges misuse of the Information Technology (IT) Act in an attempt to block content on the platform. The case has been brought before the Karnataka High Court.
X’s legal petition challenges what it describes as “unlawful content regulation and arbitrary censorship.” Central to this dispute is the interpretation of Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, which X argues undermines Supreme Court rulings and restricts online expression, as reported by PTI.
Section 69A vs. Section 79(3)(b)
The legal challenge also highlights the government’s utilization of Section 79(3)(b) to create an alternative content-blocking mechanism, sidestepping the established legal framework outlined in Section 69A. Under Section 69A, the government can request content removal for reasons related to national security, public order, or sovereignty, providing clearer legal guidelines for organizations.
Conversely, Section 79(3)(b) is criticized for its lack of clarity, compelling platforms to independently evaluate content legality, thereby exposing them to potential legal challenges or public backlash.
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