Published Mar 30, 2026 | 6:58 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 30, 2026 | 6:58 PM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: Ministry of Electronics and IT has released draft amendments to the IT Rules, 2026, open for public comments until 14 April. Key changes include extending MIB’s blocking powers to user-generated news on social media and mandating compliance with MeitY advisories, raising concerns over expanded government oversight and platform liability.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released a draft for the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Second Amendment Rules, 2026, opening it for public comments until 14 April, 2026.
The proposals draws attention to two key changes that could majorly alter how online content — particularly news and current affairs posted by ordinary citizens and social media influencers — is regulated and blocked in India.
The draft seeks to amend the existing IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which govern due diligence obligations for social media platforms, intermediaries, and digital news publishers.
Extension of MIB blocking powers to intermediaries and user-generated news
The amendment would explicitly allow the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to issue blocking orders not only to certified news publishers but also directly to intermediaries (such as social media platforms).
Now: MeitY has proposed amending the IT Rules 2021 to:
1. Allow MIB to issue blocking orders to intermediaries and for news content posted by users who are not publishers under the notified rules, ie, influencers pic.twitter.com/kgFynT66li
— Aditi Agrawal (@Aditi_muses) March 30, 2026
This would cover news and current affairs content uploaded or hosted by users who are not official publishers under the notified rules — a category that includes influencers and ordinary social media users.
This move addresses longstanding ambiguities in the regulation of user-generated news-like content on platforms like X, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
Previously, governance of such content has often fallen into a grey area between MeitY and MIB.
Mandatory compliance with MeitY advisories
A new sub-rule under Rule 3 would make it obligatory for intermediaries to comply with any written clarification, advisory, order, direction, standard operating procedure, code of practice, or guideline issued by MeitY.
These directives must specify their legal basis and scope and would form part of the intermediaries’ “due diligence” obligations under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 — the safe harbour provision that protects platforms from liability for user content if they exercise due diligence.
Non-compliance could potentially risk loss of safe harbour protection, exposing platforms to greater legal liability.
The draft also includes minor changes to grievance redressal mechanisms and other procedural aspects. The proposed rules are slated to come into force on a date to be notified in 2026.
This consultation comes months after MeitY notified a separate set of amendments in February 2026 focused primarily on synthetically generated information (SGI), including deepfakes.
Those earlier changes introduced definitions for AI-generated content, labelling requirements, shorter takedown timelines, and enhanced due diligence for platforms to combat misinformation, non-consensual imagery, and related harms.
The current draft appears to build on broader efforts to strengthen government oversight over online speech and content moderation, particularly around news dissemination outside traditional publishing channels.
Public comments on the draft can be submitted until 14 April, 2026.
