The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has introduced amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, aimed at enhancing the process for removing unlawful online content by intermediaries and increasing transparency.
These changes reinforce intermediaries’ due diligence responsibilities under the Information Technology Act, 2000. Specifically, the updated Rule 3(1)(d) adds safeguards to ensure that content removal is transparent, proportionate, and accountable. The revised rules will take effect from November 1, 2025.
Initially notified in February 2021 and amended twice since, the IT Rules require intermediaries, including social media platforms, to act upon unlawful content once notified by the government or court. The review by MeitY called for clearer accountability at senior levels and detailed specification of unlawful content.
Now, only senior officials of the rank of Joint Secretary or above, or their equivalents, can issue removal notices. For police, the issuing officer must be at least Deputy Inspector General rank. These notices must specify the legal grounds, nature of the violation, and precise location of the content.
All such notifications will be reviewed monthly by senior government officers to ensure balanced, non-arbitrary enforcement respecting citizens’ rights.
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