X lawyer’s ‘Tom, Dick, and Harry’ remark on government official draws controversy

A lawyer for Elon Musk's X told an Indian court that every "Tom, Dick, and Harry" government official had been authorized to issue content takedown orders. This remark has drawn a sharp rebuke from New Delhi's counsel in the latest clash over content moderation.

X has long been at loggerheads with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over content removal requests. The remarks were made during a hearing on the U.S. firm's challenge to a government-run website it says is a "censorship portal" that allows officials to issue content removal orders.

New Delhi, in its defence says the website is only to swiftly notify companies of their due diligence obligations.

India is a critical growth market for X, considering Musk is getting closer to launching his other key ventures Starlink and Tesla in the country.

During the court hearing, X's lawyer, K. G. Raghavan, said it recently received a notice from the railways department to remove a video in which a car was being driven on a railway track. He told the court that it was news, but the government found it unlawful.

"This is the danger, My Lord, that is done now, if every Tom, Dick, and Harry officer is authorized," Raghavan told the high court in the southern state of Karnataka.

The phrase drew immediate condemnation from India's Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who said "officers are not Tom, Dick, or Harry ... they are statutory functionaries".