X Corp Involvement in Sahyog Portal for Human Trafficking Cases
The Delhi High Court has sought clarification from the Union government regarding whether X Corp., previously known as Twitter, should engage with the Sahyog portal in instances related to human trafficking, child trafficking, and national security.
Court Directives on X Corp’s Application
In a ruling from 12 August, Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma instructed the Centre to provide a comprehensive response by 10 September. This response should address X Corp.’s request to be excused from the proceedings and its disagreement with the obligatory onboarding to the Sahyog portal, which is managed by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Legal Considerations Regarding Human Trafficking
The court remarked, “The Union of India should file a response to the current application, specifically addressing whether, in cases involving human trafficking, child trafficking, as well as critical issues like drug trafficking and matters related to national security, X Corp. should be undoubtedly part of the SAHYOG portal. The reply should be submitted by September 10, 2025.”
Pending Matters Involving X Corp
X Corp. is contesting the Sahyog framework, with this issue also awaiting a verdict in the Karnataka High Court. However, the Delhi High Court acknowledged that there were no legal restrictions hindering it from considering X Corp. in the ongoing case, which stems from a habeas corpus petition filed by a mother searching for her missing 19-year-old son.
Importance of Collaboration in Missing Children Cases
The bench emphasized that its assessment of X Corp.’s inclusion revolved around cases of missing children and the necessity for prompt collaboration between law enforcement bodies and social media platforms.
Government’s Position on Intermediary Participation
The government’s legal representative contended that despite X Corp.’s reluctance to join, 64 other intermediaries have already participated. In its status report, the Centre highlighted that over 1,100 entities, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Microsoft, and internet service providers, have become part of the “API integrated system” facilitating immediate data exchange. Furthermore, 33 Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers have enrolled, and all states and Union territories have designated nodal officers.
Goals of the Sahyog Portal
The Sahyog portal is intended to simplify the process of issuing IT Act notices to intermediaries, promoting quicker responses to illegal online content. Its goal is to bring together authorized agencies and intermediaries onto a single platform to accelerate the removal of harmful materials.
The High Court plans to revisit the case after the Centre submits its response.