The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has notified amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, introducing new safeguards to enhance transparency, accountability, and proportionality in the removal of unlawful online content. The amended provisions, titled the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2025, will come into effect from November 15, 2025.
The revised framework strengthens the due diligence obligations of intermediaries under the Information Technology Act, 2000. Specifically, the changes to Rule 3(1)(d) aim to ensure that content takedown requests are carried out in a transparent and lawful manner.
Initially introduced in February 2021 and amended in October 2022 and April 2023, the IT Rules, 2021, lay out obligations for intermediaries, including social media platforms, to ensure online safety and accountability. Under Rule 3(1)(d), intermediaries are required to remove unlawful information upon receiving actual knowledge through a court order or notification from the Appropriate Government.
Following a review, MeitY identified the need for additional safeguards to reinforce senior-level oversight, specify unlawful content more clearly, and establish a structured review of government directions.
Under the new amendments, only senior officers—of rank not below Joint Secretary or equivalent—can issue directions for content removal. In cases involving police authorities, this responsibility is restricted to officers of the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) or above.
The rules also mandate that every intimation include the precise legal basis, statutory provision, and the specific URL or identifier of the content to be removed. This ensures clarity and compliance with Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, replacing earlier broad notifications with a more reasoned and detailed process.
Additionally, all takedown directions will now be subject to a monthly review by an officer not below the rank of Secretary in the Appropriate Government, ensuring that such actions remain necessary, proportionate, and consistent with the law.
The Ministry stated that these reforms balance citizens’ constitutional rights with the State’s regulatory responsibilities, preventing arbitrary enforcement while promoting a safer and more accountable digital ecosystem.
The amendments are expected to improve clarity for intermediaries, ensure senior-level accountability, and strengthen the safeguards surrounding online content regulation in India.
