Twitter's decision to reject Indian demands that it take down content and block accounts the government dislikes shows a tough new tack by social media giants that analysts say could set a precedent in the face of growing regulatory crackdowns.

On Tuesday, the U.S. social media platform asked an Indian court to overturn some government orders to kill posts, which Delhi had accused of spreading misinformation.

They included posts that backed farmers' protests and tweets critical of the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.