The Central Government has firmly opposed social media platform X's description of the 'Sahyog' portal as a censorship tool, calling it both unfortunate and unacceptable. In a detailed response to the Karnataka High Court, the government refuted X Corp's claims, which challenge India's information-blocking system.  

The government stated that the petitioner had misunderstood the provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act, especially Sections 69A and 79(3)(b). X Corp argued that Section 79(3)(b) does not give the government the power to block content without following the safeguards mentioned in Section 69A, its related blocking rules, and the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Shreya Singhal case. The government argued that Section 69A specifically allows it to issue blocking orders under certain conditions and includes multiple safeguards for restricting online content. It explained that this section is very different from Section 79(3)(b), which only requires online platforms to follow due diligence when they receive notices from authorised agencies. 

Unlike Section 69A, Section 79 does not give the government the power to issue blocking orders. Instead, it simply informs online platforms about their responsibilities. If they fail to follow the rules, they lose their legal protection (safe harbour) and could face action under Rule 7 of the IT Rules, 2021. The government further clarified that Section 69A allows it to block access to information and take legal action if rules are not followed, while Section 79 only outlines the conditions for online platforms to remain protected under the law. The government stated that X Corp had wrongly treated blocking orders issued under Section 69A as the same as notices under Section 79(3)(b), even though the Supreme Court had already clarified the difference in the Shreya Singhal case. In response to X Corp's concerns, the government defended the Sahyog portal, calling it a helpful tool that improves coordination between intermediaries and law enforcement agencies.

The Centre explained that the portal offers a structured system for quick action against illegal online content, benefiting both digital platforms and investigative authorities. "It is misleading to label Sahyog as a censorship tool. By doing so, the petitioner is wrongfully presenting itself as a content creator rather than an intermediary. Such an assertion from a global platform like X is deeply regrettable and unacceptable," the statement read. The government stated that X, as a foreign commercial company, does not have an automatic right to host or protect content posted by others on its platform. It also pointed out that in a previous case filed by Twitter, the Karnataka High Court had clearly ruled that Articles 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution do not apply to the company.

With this latest submission, the government reaffirmed its position that the laws on blocking information are clear and separate from other regulations, dismissing claims that it is exceeding its authority.

According to its website, Sahyog is designed to automate the process of sending notices to intermediaries on behalf of the government or its agencies under the IT Act, 2000. This helps in quickly removing or blocking access to any information, data, or communication link that is being used for illegal activities.