Another key change makes it mandatory for intermediaries to follow any clarification, advisory, direction or guideline issued by the government. These directions will now form part of the platform’s due diligence under Section 79 of the IT Act. This is important because safe harbour protection depends on following these rules. For example, if the government issues a written order asking a platform to remove misleading content, it must comply or risk losing legal protection.

The draft also expands the scope of regulation. The strict rules mentioned earlier mainly applied to publishers like news websites or OTT platforms. Now, they will also apply to intermediaries and to content posted by regular users related to news and current affairs. If an individual posts a video explaining a political issue or breaking news, that content could be under the ambit of the revised rules. This brings influencers, YouTubers and independent creators under regulatory oversight.

Changes have also been made to the committee, which includes representatives from key ministries such as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of External Affairs, and Ministry of Defence, to review content-related issues.

The committee’s role has also been expanded. It can now examine any matter referred to it, not just formal complaints or grievances. This gives it wider powers to review online content and suggest action. If it finds certain content problematic, it can recommend that platforms take it down.

Besides, the government has tightened timelines for content takedown. Platforms may now be required to act within a much shorter time frame — reduced from earlier limits of up to 24-36 hours to just a few hours in urgent cases.

Why the need for change

Even before the rules are implemented, reports suggest that MeitY has started sending takedown orders to social media platforms like X, Instagram and Facebook, as well as video platforms like YouTube. Several users, including Facebook pages of news platforms Molitics, National Dastak, and satirist Rajeev Nigam, have reportedly received takedown notices.