X May Lose Safe Harbour for Inaction on Rana Ayyub’s Tweets: Centre to Delhi High Court

The Central Government and Delhi Police informed the Delhi High Court on Friday that social media platform X could lose its "safe harbour" protection for failing to remove allegedly offensive tweets by journalist Rana Ayyub.

The Centre argued that X had "actual knowledge" of the content through police notices and a trial court order directing an FIR against Ayyub. Under the IT Rules, 2021, such knowledge triggers a statutory obligation for intermediaries to remove unlawful content.

The Court previously described the tweets regarding Hindu deities & Savarkar, as "highly derogatory and communal."

The Court has directed the authorities to ensure interim takedown orders are executed.

[Amita Sachdeva v. X Corp & Ors.]