Startup Originals Team
On October 23, 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) announced amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These changes aim to enhance accountability and precision in the process of content removal by digital platforms.
Key Changes in the Amendments
1. Enhanced Accountability for Content Removal
The revised rules stipulate that requests for the removal of unlawful content must now be issued by senior officials. Specifically, the directive must come from an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary. In cases where a Joint Secretary is unavailable, a Director or an officer of equivalent rank may issue such requests. Previously, the rules allowed content removal instructions from the “appropriate government or its agency” without specifying the rank of the issuing officer.
2. Empowerment of Law Enforcement Agencies
The amendments also authorize law enforcement officials to issue content removal orders. An officer not below the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) is now empowered to direct social media platforms to remove content.
3. Periodic Review of Takedown Orders
To ensure that content removal is justified and consistent with the law, all takedown orders will undergo periodic reviews. These reviews will be conducted by an officer at or above the rank of Secretary in the concerned department.
4. Specificity in Takedown Requests
The new rules require that all content removal requests clearly specify:
- The legal basis and statutory provision invoked.
- The nature of the unlawful act.
- The specific identifier (such as a URL) or other electronic location of the content.
Implementation Timeline
These amendments are set to come into effect on November 15, 2025. The notification was issued on the same day that MeitY sought public feedback on proposed amendments to the IT Rules aimed at addressing the issue of deepfake content.
