India has proposed new amendments to its IT rules aimed at expanding regulation of online news and political content across social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and X. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has suggested bringing not only registered publishers but also individual users such as influencers, podcasters, and independent journalists under a formal “code of ethics” for sharing news and current affairs content.
The amendment could lead to a substantial level of government monitoring of internet-based information, as platforms would need to comply fully with government instructions to maintain their “safe harbour” protections. The government has emphasized that the proposed amendments are aimed at addressing the problems of disinformation, hate speech, and deepfakes and has sought public comment on the issue.
Nonetheless, the changes have sparked fears in the realm of digital rights and among content creators. Critics claim that the regulations may lead to further censorship, restrictions on freedom of speech, and even attacks on dissidents. There have been recent cases where government critics’ social media accounts were blocked, making people worry about the implications of the law.
Critics also fear that broadening the scope of regulatory powers without any safeguards could lead to a chilling effect, limiting free speech and discussions in the digital space. However, the government believes that a comprehensive approach is needed, considering the growing trend of citizen journalism.
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