The proposal follows recent steps to tighten regulations, including reducing content takedown timelines to three hours and introducing obligations around AI-generated content and deepfakes.
proposed changes to its IT law to make advisories and
clarifications legally binding on internet platforms such as
Meta, Google and X, the latest in a string of
stricter compliance requirements for tech giants.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government this year compressed
the timeline for platforms to take down content flagged by
authorities to three hours, from 36 hours previously, and has
imposed new obligations around AI-generated content and
deepfakes.
Currently, the IT ministry’s advisories to platforms – on
issues ranging from deepfake labelling to content takedown
practices – have functioned as guidance without explicit legal
consequences.
In new proposed rules on Monday, the government said
non-compliance with advisories or guidelines issued by the IT
ministry would be treated as a failure to meet the conditions
for safe harbour – the legal shield that protects platforms from
liability for content posted by their users.
The changes were being proposed to “strengthen
enforceability” of directions and “improve legal certainty”, the
ministry said in a notice inviting public feedback by April 14.
Meta, Google and X did not immediately respond to requests
for comment.
Published on March 30, 2026