India has mandated that social media platforms remove unlawful content within three hours of receiving notice, tightening the earlier 36-hour deadline and potentially creating compliance challenges for companies such as Meta, YouTube, and X. The revision updates the country’s 2021 IT rules and will come into force on February 20, further underscoring India’s assertive stance on regulating online content.
Authorities did not provide a reason for shortening the timeline, but legal experts argue the new requirement could be difficult for platforms to meet, given the practical challenges of reviewing and acting on takedown requests so quickly. The rules continue to allow the government to direct the removal of content considered illegal under laws related to national security and public order, reflecting India’s expanding efforts to regulate digital speech — a move that has drawn criticism from digital rights advocates and sparked tensions with global technology firms.
India has already issued thousands of takedown orders in recent years, with Meta reporting it restricted more than 28,000 content items in the country during the first half of 2025 following government requests. Meanwhile, the updated regulations also scale back an earlier proposal that required AI-generated content to carry labels across 10% of its display or duration, now instead directing platforms to ensure such content is clearly and prominently identified.
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