India has significantly tightened its regulation of social media platforms, mandating that companies remove unlawful content within three hours of receiving official notice, a sharp reduction from the previous 36-hour window. The revised rule, announced by the government on Tuesday, is set to take effect on February 20 and applies to major platforms including Meta, YouTube, and X.
The change amends India’s Information Technology (IT) Rules first introduced in 2021, which have long been a point of contention between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and global technology firms. With the shortened timeline, India further reinforces its status as one of the world’s most assertive regulators of online content, placing increased compliance pressure on digital platforms operating in one of the largest internet markets globally.
Under the amended rules, social media companies must act swiftly once notified by authorities that content violates Indian law. While the government did not provide an official explanation for reducing the takedown period, the move is expected to heighten concerns among technology companies and digital rights advocates about feasibility and potential overreach.
Legal experts say the three-hour deadline poses serious operational challenges. Akash Karmakar, a partner at Indian law firm Panag & Babu who specialises in technology law, described the requirement as unrealistic.
“It’s practically impossible for social media firms to remove content in three hours,” Karmakar said. “This assumes no meaningful review process or real-world ability to evaluate legality before compliance.”
India has steadily expanded its oversight of online speech in recent years, granting powers to a growing number of government officers to issue takedown orders. These directives can be based on a wide range of laws, including those related to national security, public order, and public morality. Critics argue that the breadth of these powers increases the risk of censorship and arbitrary enforcement.
The new rule is likely to intensify ongoing tensions between the Indian government and global tech firms. Companies such as Meta and X have previously pushed back against takedown demands, while digital rights groups have warned that India’s regulatory approach could undermine freedom of expression.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, declined to comment on the latest amendment. X, owned by Elon Musk, and Alphabet’s Google, which operates YouTube, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The announcement comes amid a broader global push to hold social media platforms more accountable for online content. Governments across regions—from the European Union to Latin America—are demanding faster removals of harmful or illegal material and stricter compliance with national laws. India’s three-hour deadline, however, is among the most aggressive timelines globally.
Transparency reports from major platforms show the scale of India’s enforcement efforts. In recent years, the government has issued thousands of takedown orders. Meta disclosed that it restricted more than 28,000 pieces of content in India during the first six months of 2025 alone, following government requests.
A senior social media executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the new rule was introduced without adequate consultation.
“This rule was never in consultation. International standards typically allow a longer timeline to assess and respond to takedown requests,” the executive said.
In addition to tightening takedown deadlines, the amended IT rules also modify provisions related to artificial intelligence-generated content. An earlier proposal that would have required platforms to label AI-generated content across at least 10 percent of its surface area or duration has been relaxed. Instead, platforms are now required to ensure such content is “prominently labelled,” offering companies more flexibility in how they comply.
Supporters of the changes argue that faster removals are necessary to curb the spread of harmful, misleading, or illegal content in a fast-moving digital environment. However, critics warn that the compressed timeline leaves little room for platforms to assess context, challenge erroneous orders, or protect legitimate speech.
As the February 20 implementation date approaches, social media companies face mounting pressure to adapt their moderation systems and legal workflows to meet the new requirement, even as debates continue over the balance between regulation, platform responsibility, and free expression in India’s vast digital ecosystem.
Source: Africa Publicity
