India, Sept. 29 -- Social media platform X said on Monday that it will appeal a Karnataka High Court order upholding the government's content takedown regime, warning that the system would enable millions of police officers across India to issue arbitrary directives for content removal.

In a post on the platform, X described the ruling as "deeply concerning," adding that it would defend free expression in India. "This new regime has no basis in the law, circumvents Section 69A of the IT Act, violates Supreme Court rulings, and infringes Indian citizens' constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression," the company said.

At the centre of the dispute is Sahyog, an online portal that allows police officials to file takedown order...