India’s government has announced stricter regulations for social media platforms mandating the removal of unlawful content within three hours of receiving an official government notice. The revised rule which significantly shortens the previous 36 hour deadline will come into effect on February 20 2026.
The change forms part of amendments to India’s 2021 Information Technology (IT) Rules which already subject global technology companies such as Meta YouTube and X to heightened regulatory oversight. With more than one billion internet users India represents one of the world’s largest digital markets, placing increased compliance pressure on online platforms.
Legal experts have raised concerns over the practicality of the new timeline. Technology law specialist Akash Karmakar of Panag & Babu described the three hour limit as extremely difficult noting that content moderation typically requires internal reviews legal checks and operational coordination.
Indian authorities have long held the power to order takedowns of content considered illegal particularly on grounds of national security public order or public safety. In recent years platforms have received thousands of such requests. Meta alone restricted over 28,000 pieces of content in India during the first half of 2025 following government directives.
The amendments also revise rules on artificial intelligence content requiring platforms to ensure AI generated material is prominently labeled. While the government has not explained the accelerated timeline the move reinforces India’s status as one of the most assertive regulators of online speech globally.
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