Sahyog Portal

Current Context: X Corp (formerly Twitter Inc.) has approached the Karnataka High Court, contesting the government’s use of Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, for issuing content-blocking orders via the Sahyog Portal.

Sahyog Portal:

• Launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2024.
• Enables centralized content-blocking orders from government agencies and local authorities.

Legal Framework:

• Section 69A: Allows content blocking for national security or public order, with safeguards like reasoned orders and an opportunity for affected parties to contest (as upheld in the Shreya Singhal case, 2015).
• Section 79(3)(b): Exempts intermediaries from liability unless they fail to act on government notices to remove illegal content. X Corp argues this section is being misused for direct blocking.

Significance

• Highlights concerns over freedom of expression vs. national security.
• Calls for clearer distinctions in intermediary responsibilities and content-blocking procedures.