In brief
In a significant change to social media regulation, India has imposed a three-hour deadline for platforms like Meta, YouTube, and X to remove unlawful material. This new requirement, effective February 20, reduces the previous 36-hour window and includes AI-generated content. Critics express concerns over potential censorship and the feasibility of compliance within such a short timeframe.
India has introduced new rules that make it mandatory for social media companies to remove unlawful material within three hours of being notified, in a sharp tightening of the existing 36-hour deadline. The amended guidelines will take effect from 20 February and apply to major platforms including Meta, YouTube, and X. They will also apply to AI-generated content.The government did not provide a reason for reducing the takedown window. Critics worry the move is part of a broader tightening of oversight of online content and could lead to censorship in the world's largest democracy with more than a billion internet users.In recent years, Indian authorities have used existing Information Technology rules to order social media platforms to remove content deemed illegal under laws dealing with national security and public order. Experts say they give authorities wide-ranging power over social media content.According to transparency reports, more than 28,000 URLs were blocked in 2024 following government requests. The BBC has contacted the ministry of electronics and information technology for comment on the latest changes. Meta declined to respond to the amendments.The amendments also introduce rules for AI-generated content, defining it for the first time and mandating clear labeling by platforms that allow users to create or share such material. Critics have raised concerns about the feasibility of these new rules, stating that the compressed timeline would transform platforms into rapid fire censors. They argue that the short deadlines eliminate meaningful human review, pressuring platforms to over-remove content automatically.Delhi-based technology analyst Prasanto K Roy described the new regime as perhaps the most extreme takedown regime in any democracy. He noted this would make compliance nearly impossible without extensive automation and minimal human oversight, leaving little room for platforms to verify the legality of requests. While some experts welcome the labeling requirement for AI content for its potential transparency benefits, they warn that the stringent deadlines may lead to excessive censorship. The BBC has reached out to the Indian government for a response regarding these rising concerns.
