X informs Delhi High Court that takedown notices were fraudulent
Social media platform X confirmed to the Delhi High Court that takedown requests targeting civil society groups were sent by an impostor posing as police.
X has confirmed to the Delhi High Court that takedown notices targeting the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) and the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC.in) were fraudulent. The platform stated that its internal investigation identified an external party impersonating the Delhi Police as the source of the requests.
Counsel for X clarified during the hearing that the company did not act on the notices, deeming them illegal. The company has since filed a formal complaint with the Delhi Police regarding the impersonation. IFF and SFLC.in had initially petitioned the court after failing to receive a response from authorities regarding the authenticity of the legal demands.
Justice Amit Mahajan disposed of the petitions following the admission, while granting the petitioners liberty to seek legal recourse if future action is taken against them. The incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding the integrity of legal reporting tools on social media intermediaries and the potential for abuse of official channels.