An Indian court has dismissed a legal challenge by Elon Musk's X against the country's content removal system, a significant ruling that upholds the government's power to regulate online platforms. The Karnataka High Court ruled that X must comply with local laws and that "liberty is yoked with responsibility."

X had filed the lawsuit against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, arguing that a new system, which allows various officials to directly issue content takedown orders, amounted to censorship and was unconstitutional. The platform had previously called the process arbitrary, noting that "every 'Tom, Dick, and Harry'" government official was authorized to issue such orders.

In a strong rebuke of X's position, Judge M. Nagaprasanna stated that social media "cannot be left in a state of anarchic freedom" and that a platform operating in India's jurisdiction must accept a "solemn duty of accountability." The court also noted that while X follows similar takedown laws in the United States, it had been unwilling to do so in India.

The Indian government has defended the new system, arguing it is essential for combating the spread of "hate and division" and "fake news" that can threaten social harmony and public order. It also noted that other major tech companies, including Meta and Alphabet's Google, support its regulatory approach.

This ruling is a major setback for X in one of its largest markets. While the company has not yet commented on the decision, it retains the option to appeal the ruling, including to the Supreme Court of India.