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India enforces three-hour takedown rule for social media
India has sharply reduced the timeframe for social media platforms to remove unlawful content from 36 hours to just three hours after receiving a government notice. The new regulations, set to take effect on 20 February, apply to major platforms such as Meta, YouTube, and X, as well as AI-generated content.
Scope and implementation
The amended guidelines require platforms to act within the three-hour window, though the government has not provided a reason for the change. Critics argue the move could lead to increased censorship in the world's most populous democracy, home to over a billion internet users.
Under existing Information Technology rules, Indian authorities have already ordered the removal of content deemed illegal under national security and public order laws. In 2024 alone, over 28,000 URLs were blocked following government requests, according to transparency reports.
New AI content regulations
The updated rules also introduce definitions for AI-generated material, including deepfakes-audio or video altered to appear real. Exceptions include ordinary editing, accessibility features, and educational or design work.
Platforms must now label AI-generated content and, where possible, add permanent markers to trace its origin. Companies are prohibited from removing these labels and must use automated tools to detect and prevent illegal AI content, such as deceptive or non-consensual material, false documents, child sexual abuse content, and impersonation.
Criticism and concerns
Digital rights groups and technology experts have raised alarms about the feasibility and implications of the new rules. The Internet Freedom Foundation warned that the three-hour deadline would force platforms to act as "rapid-fire censors," eliminating meaningful human review and leading to automated over-removal of content.
"These impossibly short timelines eliminate any meaningful human review, forcing platforms toward automated over-removal."
Internet Freedom Foundation
Mixed reactions
Anushka Jain, a research associate at the Digital Futures Lab, acknowledged that the labelling requirement could improve transparency but cautioned that the tight deadline might push companies toward full automation.
"Companies are already struggling with the 36-hour deadline because the process involves human oversight. If it gets completely automated, there is a high risk that it will lead to censoring of content."
Anushka Jain, Digital Futures Lab
Expert warnings
Delhi-based technology analyst Prasanto K Roy described the new regime as "perhaps the most extreme takedown regime in any democracy." He argued that compliance would be "nearly impossible" without extensive automation and minimal human oversight, leaving little room for platforms to assess the legality of takedown requests.
On AI labelling, Roy noted the positive intent but warned that reliable, tamper-proof technologies are still in development.
Government and corporate responses
The BBC has sought comment from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology regarding the amendments and the concerns raised by critics. Meta declined to respond, while X and Google (which owns YouTube) have yet to reply.
