The Government of India on Friday, 10th of April 2026 has proposed sweeping new rules to regulate news and current affairs content shared on social media platforms.
Recall that On March 30th, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released draft amendments to the 2021 IT Rules that would apply not only to registered news publishers but also to regular users, including influencers and content creators who share news-related content online.
MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan confirmed that individuals posting content related to news and current affairs on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, or X could now fall under the regulatory framework of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The proposal dramatically compresses the window for content takedowns from 24 to 36 hours previously down to just three hours and expands the range of authorities that can issue such orders beyond the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to include any state-designated authority.
Under the new proposed rules, social media giants including Meta, Google, and X would be required to comply with government advisories as part of their “due diligence” obligations, and any non-compliance could cause these companies to lose legal protection in the country or be held liable for user content.
Critics, including the Internet Freedom Foundation, have labeled the draft rules “digital authoritarianism,” warning that they expand the government’s control not only over intermediaries like social media platforms but also over ordinary users who post or share news and current affairs content online.
Digital rights advocates worry that a “chilling effect” could discourage creators from offering critical commentary or reporting on sensitive socio-political issues, thereby limiting free speech and independent reporting.
The draft rules are open for public comment, with the government inviting feedback before a final decision is made.
