Social media platform X informed an Indian court on Friday that takedown notices purportedly issued by Delhi Police targeting prominent free-speech groups were fake.
The clarification comes following reports involving the Internet Freedom Foundation and India's Software Freedom Law Center, known as SFLC.in. The two digital rights organizations had previously stated that a purported notice from police in New Delhi had asked X to remove their accounts.
According to those previous statements, the fraudulent notices accused the organizations of defaming a Hindu nationalist group linked to India's ruling party.
The proceedings before the Indian court highlight ongoing legal and operational challenges technology platforms face regarding content moderation, compliance, and the verification of legal orders issued by law enforcement agencies in local jurisdictions.
"This development underscores the critical need for robust verification mechanisms between law enforcement agencies and technology platforms. As digital platforms navigate complex regulatory environments, ensuring the authenticity of legal and takedown notices is essential to maintaining platform integrity and protecting legitimate civil society organizations from unwarranted censorship." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
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