In a significant ruling, the Karnataka High Court in India has rejected X's (formerly Twitter) argument that it has a constitutional right to free speech, affirming the Indian government's authority to issue content takedown orders. The court determined that Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, which protects free expression, applies only to Indian citizens, thus foreign platforms like X cannot invoke these protections. The ruling supports the government's use of the Sahyog portal, which allows for expedited content removal. X had challenged the government's orders, claiming they lacked transparency and violated free expression principles. The decision underscores India's increasing regulatory assertiveness over global tech companies, particularly as content takedown requests have surged in recent years. Legal experts suggest that while the ruling may enhance coordination between the government and platforms, it raises concerns about due diligence and compliance obligations. X has the option to appeal to the Supreme Court, but experts believe the outcome may not favor the company.