The Delhi High Court has asked the central government to clarify whether social media platform X Corp (formerly Twitter) should be mandatorily integrated with the Sahyog portal. The query, directed to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, comes in the backdrop of growing concerns around the handling of online content related to national security, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other serious crimes. The Centre has been given until 10th September to file its response.
Background of the Case
The issue stems from a public interest litigation concerning the role of social media companies in swiftly addressing unlawful online material. The petitioner argued that platforms such as X Corp should be seamlessly connected to the Sahyog portal, which already hosts over 64 companies, including global tech giants like Meta, Google, Microsoft, and YouTube.
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The Sahyog portal was established to streamline cooperation between law enforcement and digital platforms, ensuring the rapid removal of illegal content and efficient data-sharing in sensitive cases. Over 1,000 entities, including large multinational corporations, are currently part of this framework. X Corp, however, has not yet been integrated, raising questions about its responsiveness in critical matters of national importance.
Court’s Observations and Next Steps
A bench comprising Justice Pratibha M. Singh and Justice Amit Sharma noted that seamless integration of X Corp into the Sahyog portal would help authorities act swiftly in cases involving women’s and children’s safety, cybercrimes, and threats to national security. The judges stressed the importance of ensuring that law enforcement agencies have the ability to coordinate effectively with all major platforms without procedural delays.
The Home Ministry’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) currently oversees the portal. Officials say the system already works closely with law enforcement agencies across states and union territories, offering real-time coordination in tackling illegal online content.
The court’s directive now places the responsibility on the central government to decide whether X Corp should be mandated to join the portal without conditions, similar to other global platforms. The response, due in less than a month, is expected to set the tone for future government-platform relations in India’s fast-evolving digital regulation landscape.