DELHI POLICE SEEKS REMOVAL OF IFF ACCOUNT AND RSS-RELATED POSTS FROM X; DIGITAL RIGHTS GROUP VOWS LEGAL CHALLENGE
November 3, 2026
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 3: The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), a digital rights advocacy organisation, on Tuesday said the Delhi Police had asked social media platform X to remove its account and six posts concerning the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The organisation has vowed to challenge the requests in court if the police do not withdraw them.
According to IFF, two reports submitted by the Delhi Police to X also sought action against the accounts of Software Freedom Law Center India (SFLC.in) and GeoBlocked India, an initiative that tracks internet restrictions, along with posts published by 16 other users.
The controversy began on October 29, when IFF, SFLC.in and the operator of GeoBlocked India received a legal notice purportedly issued on behalf of the RSS. The notice allegedly demanded that the organisations stop criticising government blocking orders and documenting restricted online content. It was signed by an unnamed “Authorised Signatory”.
IFF said several RSS office-bearers subsequently questioned the authenticity of the notice on X. The organisation wrote to the RSS seeking confirmation and published the notice alongside its response on October 30.
The digital rights group alleged that the Special Commissioner of Police (Crime), Delhi Police, submitted the first report to X on October 31, seeking the removal or withholding of posts by IFF and SFLC.in on the grounds that they were defamatory towards the RSS under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
A second report, submitted on November 2, reportedly listed 40 URLs, including 37 posts and the entire accounts of IFF, SFLC.in and GeoBlocked India. According to IFF, the report invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Rules, 2021, and the Information Technology Act, seeking action within three hours.
X forwarded the two reports to IFF on November 3, informing the organisation of the requests and suggesting that it seek legal advice and consider challenging them in court. IFF said the notifications did not indicate whether X had acted on the requests.
The organisation strongly objected to the police action, arguing that the posts under scrutiny discussed and criticised the legal notice received by the three groups. It questioned the legal basis for seeking the removal of entire accounts and alleged that the requests were disproportionate because they also covered users who had commented on the controversy.
IFF further said the reports did not disclose details of any court order authorising the requested action. It called on the Delhi Police to withdraw the reports and disclose the complaint, if any, on which they were based. It also asked the RSS to clarify whether it had authorised the legal notices or any police complaint.
The organisation maintained that documenting online censorship and challenging content restrictions were central to its work. It said it would continue publishing information about blocking orders and providing legal assistance to people whose accounts or posts were restricted.
The dispute has raised questions about the legal process governing online content-removal requests, the scope of police powers in alleged defamation cases and the ability of digital rights organisations to document internet restrictions. The authenticity of the original legal notice and the legal basis of the police requests remain contested.
