The Indian government has proposed changes to extend its regulatory framework to a wider range of online news voices, including influencers and podcasters on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and X.
Last week, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) suggested amendments to India's IT rules - which govern digital media content - to include users who are not publishers who share content related to news and current affairs within a code of ethics it currently applies to registered news publishers.
Experts say this will potentially give the government more power over news-related posts shared by ordinary users, including independent journalists and podcasters.
The government has proposed requiring social media platforms to follow orders and guidelines if they want to keep safe harbour protection - legal immunity from liability for content posted by users.
The proposed amendments have alarmed digital rights activists and independent news creators, who say they could enforce near-total compliance with state-led censorship on social media platforms. They warn the rules could be misused to target critics and clamp down on dissent.
The government justifies the amendments as a means to strengthen existing IT rules and combat fake news, hate speech, and deepfakes, and has invited public feedback until April 14.
However, critics remain skeptical of the government's stated intentions. Akash Banerjee, who runs a popular YouTube channel, argues the rules could cultivate a climate of fear that drives creators towards self-censorship.
Despite the many laws regulating online content, hate speech and fake news haven't reduced in the country. Instead, critical posts regarding the government are increasingly being blocked or removed, Banerjee insists.
The government denies any claims of misusing its regulatory powers. While discussing the need for a common framework to govern news content with the BBC, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan insisted these rules would support transparency and accountability.
Social media platforms are now faced with a dilemma, as the amendments could require them to act against content that resides within political gray areas. Recent events have seen social media accounts blocked for making satirical posts about the government, sparking further worries about freedom of expression in India's evolving digital landscape.
