The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is looking to expand its authority over digital media platforms by proposing amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Under these proposed changes, social media intermediaries such as Meta, Google, and X will be required to adhere to various directives, including clarifications and advisories, related to these rules.
Key aspects of the proposed amendments include:
- Stricter content removal obligations for intermediaries, mandating the removal of content linked to unlawful acts within three hours of receiving notice.
- Notices for content takedown must come from a court or an authorized government officer and specify the legal grounds for the request.
- All government directives will be subject to monthly reviews by senior officials to ensure their necessity and compliance with the law.
Additionally, the amendments broaden the regulatory scope to include user-generated news and current affairs content on intermediary platforms, even if the users are not recognized as publishers.
MeitY has opened a feedback period for stakeholders until April 14, 2026, aiming to enhance legal clarity and oversight of content hosted by intermediaries.
The Internet Freedom Foundation has criticized these proposals, urging their withdrawal due to concerns over increased censorship, particularly regarding political expression.
Furthermore, the government is exploring empowering additional ministries to issue takedown orders for social media content and has previously tightened regulations around deepfake content.
There are also discussions about restricting social media access for minors, with proposals from various state governments to impose age limits on usage.
