Source: NIE
Context: From November 1, 2025, only officials of the rank of Joint Secretary or Director General of Police (DGP) can order the removal of online content under the new Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2025.
About Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2025:
What it is?
- A new amendment to the IT Rules, 2021, notified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to strengthen online content regulation, enhance transparency, and address the emerging challenges of AI-generated and deepfake content.
Aim:
- To ensure that content moderation orders are issued only by senior officials, making the process lawful, proportionate, and accountable, while also promoting responsible AI use through mandatory labelling and identification of synthetic media.
Key Features:
- Authorized officers: Only Joint Secretary or DGP-rank officers can issue takedown requests.
- Legal justification: Every order must include a clear statutory basis, reference to specific legal provisions, and detailed URLs or identifiers of the targeted content.
- Review mechanism: All takedown actions will undergo monthly review by a secretary-level officer to ensure legality and proportionality.
- AI-generated content regulation: Introduces definition of “synthetically generated information” — any content created or altered algorithmically to appear real.
- Labelling of deepfakes: Platforms must embed visible labels or metadata on AI-generated visuals and audios covering at least 10% of surface or duration.
- Platform accountability: Significant Social Media Intermediaries (SSMIs) must obtain user declarations during upload and use automated tools to detect synthetic content.
- Due diligence obligations: Platforms violating these norms will be deemed non-compliant under the IT Act, 2000.
Significance:
- Enhances transparency and checks misuse of content takedown powers.
- Builds trust in digital governance by aligning with principles of necessity and proportionality.
- Addresses deepfake threats, protecting citizens from identity misuse, misinformation, and electoral manipulation.
