Strengthening Digital Governance: IT Rules Amendment 2025

Context:

From 1st November 2025, under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2025, only senior officials of the rank of Joint Secretary or Director General of Police (DGP) can authorize the removal of online content. This step is aimed at strengthening content regulation, ensuring accountability, and addressing challenges from AI-generated and deepfake content.

Body:

About the Amendment Rules:

The 2025 Amendment Rules are a revision of the IT Rules, 2021, notified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
They aim to enhance transparency, ensure responsible content moderation, and tackle the challenges posed by emerging AI and deepfake technologies.

Objectives:

Ensure content takedown orders are issued only by senior officials, making the process lawful, proportionate, and accountable.
Promote responsible AI usage through mandatory labelling and identification of synthetic media.

Key Features:

Authorized Officers:
- Only officials of Joint Secretary or DGP rank can issue takedown orders.
Legal Justification:
- Each order must include a clear statutory basis, reference specific legal provisions, and provide detailed URLs or content identifiers.
Review Mechanism:
- All takedown actions will undergo monthly review by a secretary-level officer to ensure legality and proportionality.
AI-Generated Content Regulation:
- Defines “synthetically generated information” as 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 the surface or duration.
Platform Accountability:
- Significant Social Media Intermediaries (SSMIs) must:
  - Obtain user declarations during uploads.
  - Use automated tools to detect synthetic content.
Due Diligence Obligations:
- Platforms violating these norms will be considered non-compliant under the IT Act, 2000.

Conclusion:

The amendment enhances transparency and prevents arbitrary misuse of content takedown powers.
Builds trust in digital governance by ensuring moderation actions are necessary and proportionate.
Addresses deepfake threats, protecting citizens from identity misuse, misinformation, and potential electoral manipulation.