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  4. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (INTERMEDIARY GUIDELINES AND DIGITAL MEDIA ETHICS CODE) AMENDMENT RULES, 2026

Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026

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February 12, 2026

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Governance

Why in News?

Recently, India has tightened social media rules, requiring platforms to remove unlawful content within 2–3 hours and regulate AI-generated information.

  • Aim – To curb the rapid virality of unlawful content and ensure accountability of digital platforms.
  • Amendment to – Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
  • Objective – Introduce legal recognition and regulation of synthetically generated information (SGI).
  • Streamline compliance timelines for social media platforms' censorship.
  • Key Features –

Domain

Provisions  

SGI Definition
  • First formal definition and regulation of SGI in India, targeting deepfakes and AI impersonations while excluding routine edits and academic/training material.

Labelling
  • Mandatory labelling of SGI with metadata or unique identifiers.
  • Removal or suppression of labels is prohibited.

Intermediary Duties
  • Significant social media intermediaries must verify user declarations.
  • Also ensure clear disclosure of SGI, and take expeditious action, including removal, disabling access, or suspending accounts.

Safe Harbour
  • Non-compliance may lead to loss of Safe Harbour protection under Section 79 of the IT Act.

Takedown Timeline
  • Takedown of unlawful content must be completed within 2–3 hours.
  • Grievance redressal timelines shortened from 15 days to 7 days.

Prohibited Content
  • Platforms must block SGI involving
    • Non-consensual intimate imagery within 2 hours against the earlier 24 hours.
    • Other forms of unlawful content within 3 hours against the earlier 36 hours.
  • Concerns – Tech companies have raised issues regarding the feasibility of rapid takedown, compliance burden, and potential risk of over-censorship.
  • Significance – Establishes India’s first legal framework for AI-generated content.
  • Enhances citizen protection from unlawful digital content and strengthens platform accountability.

Reference

IE | IT Amendment Rules, 2026

 
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