The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has announced amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, introducing new safeguards aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and proportionality in the removal of unlawful online content. The updated framework, titled the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2025, will take effect on November 15, 2025.
The amendments reinforce the due diligence obligations of intermediaries under the Information Technology Act, 2000, particularly through revisions to Rule 3(1)(d) to ensure that takedown requests are handled in a lawful, transparent, and justified manner.
Originally notified in February 2021 and amended in October 2022 and April 2023, the IT Rules outline the responsibilities of intermediaries, including social media platforms, to promote online safety and accountability. Under the current framework, intermediaries must remove unlawful content upon receiving a court order or a government notification.
Following a recent review, MeitY found the need to introduce additional safeguards to strengthen oversight, better define what constitutes unlawful content, and formalize the process of reviewing government takedown directions.
Under the new provisions:
Only senior officers—not below the rank of Joint Secretary or equivalent—may issue content removal orders.
For police authorities, such powers are confined to officers of rank Deputy Inspector General (DIG) or higher.
Every takedown directive must clearly specify the legal basis, relevant statutory provisions, and the exact URL or identifier of the targeted content.
These measures aim to replace broad, unspecific notices with reasoned and detailed directives, aligning with Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act.
Furthermore, all takedown orders will undergo a monthly review by an officer not below the rank of Secretary in the respective government, ensuring that actions are necessary, proportionate, and lawful.
According to MeitY, the amendments strike a balance between citizens’ constitutional rights and the State’s regulatory duties, discouraging arbitrary enforcement while fostering a safer and more accountable digital environment.
The government expects the updated rules to provide greater clarity for intermediaries, reinforce senior-level accountability, and enhance safeguards around online content regulation in India.
