X Says Delhi Police Takedown Notices Against IFF, SFLC Were Fake

Social media platform X has told the Delhi High Court that takedown notices purportedly issued by the Delhi Police against digital rights organisations Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) and Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC.in) were fake.

According to a post by IFF today, X said an internal investigation found the purported police communications to be fake and that it had filed a complaint with law enforcement authorities. X’s counsel told the court that an imposter had submitted the requests in the Delhi Police’s name.

“X stated that it is not likely to take any action at this stage,” IFF’s post added.

The court recorded X’s statement and disposed of the organisations’ petitions, granting them liberty to approach it again if the platform takes action against their accounts.

Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, representing both organisations, placed X’s transparency reports and a legal notice purportedly sent on behalf of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on record.

IFF said it had written to the RSS seeking confirmation of the legal notice’s authenticity but received no response. Separately, SFLC.in said an email seeking verification of the takedown requests had bounced back from the Delhi Police address mentioned in the communication.

How The Dispute Began

IFF said X forwarded two ‘Illegal Content Reports’ to it on Tuesday (November 3), submitted in the name of the Special Commissioner of Police (Crime), Delhi Police.

The first, dated October 31, sought the removal of a post IFF published on October 30 and another by SFLC.in. The second, dated Monday (November 2), sought the removal of 37 posts and the withholding of the accounts of IFF, SFLC.in, and GeoBlockedIndia.

The reports alleged that the posts defamed the RSS under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The posts reproduced and commented on a legal notice the organisations said they had received in the RSS’s name.

IFF contested the requests, arguing that its posts were protected speech under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. It also questioned their legal basis, saying the reports cited no complaint, FIR, Magistrate’s order, or court order.

Through its counsel, IFF subsequently served a legal notice to the Delhi Police, with a copy to X, seeking withdrawal of the reports and details of the authority under which they had been submitted. It also asked X not to act on the requests pending their withdrawal or adjudication.

IFF approached the Delhi High Court after receiving no official withdrawal or clarification from the Delhi Police.

Platform Accountability Under Scrutiny

The dispute comes amid a wider debate over content takedowns, transparency, and platforms’ responsibilities when responding to government requests.

In July, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey claimed that the Indian government had directed GitHub to remove three URLs linked to bitchat, an open-source messaging app that enables peer-to-peer communication without internet connectivity or centralised servers.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’s (I4C) reported directive gave GitHub three hours to remove or disable access to the URLs. These covered the project’s main source code repository, Android repository, and Android releases page. The agency cited concerns over anonymous communication and difficulties in lawful interception and investigations.

Meanwhile, MeitY is reportedly exploring withdrawing safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000, from social media platforms. The provision limits intermediaries’ liability for third-party content, subject to prescribed conditions. 

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