The Government of India has ordered social media companies to remove unlawful material within three hours of receiving a government notice, a sharp reduction from the previous 36-hour deadline that heightens pressure on global platforms operating in the country.
The amended guidelines, which take effect from February 20, will apply to major platforms including Meta, YouTube and X, as well as to AI-generated content shared online. The government did not provide a reason for shortening the takedown window.
The move reinforces India’s position as one of the world’s most assertive regulators of online content. With more than a billion internet users, platforms now face mounting pressure to comply swiftly with government directives while navigating concerns over censorship in the world’s largest democracy.
Under existing Information Technology rules, Indian authorities already have broad powers to order the removal of content deemed illegal under laws related to national security and public order. According to transparency reports, more than 28,000 URLs were blocked in 2024 following government requests. Meta disclosed that it restricted over 28,000 pieces of content in India in the first six months of 2025 alone in response to such orders.
Critics argue that the compressed three-hour timeline could effectively transform platforms into rapid censors. The Internet Freedom Foundation warned that the short deadline eliminates meaningful human review and could lead to automated over-removal of content.
“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, a research associate at the Digital Futures Lab, said.
Delhi-based technology analyst Prasanto K Roy described the new framework as “perhaps the most extreme takedown regime in any democracy,” noting that compliance would be nearly impossible without extensive automation and minimal human oversight.
Akash Karmakar, a partner at Indian law firm Panag & Babu who specialises in technology law, said it was “practically impossible” for social media firms to remove content within three hours without sacrificing proper legal review.
In addition to the tighter takedown timeline, the amendments introduce new rules governing AI-generated content. For the first time, the law defines such material, including audio and video that has been created or altered to appear real, such as deepfakes. Ordinary editing, accessibility features and genuine educational or design work are excluded.
Platforms that allow users to create or share AI-generated material must clearly and prominently label it. Where possible, they must also add permanent markers to help trace its origin. Companies are prohibited from removing these labels once applied.
The rules further require platforms to deploy automated tools to detect and prevent illegal AI content, including deceptive or non-consensual material, false documents, child sexual abuse material, explosives-related content and impersonation.
The Indian government has not yet responded publicly to concerns raised by digital rights groups and technology analysts. Meta declined to comment on the changes, while X and Google, which owns YouTube, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
As the February 20 deadline approaches, social media companies are preparing to adapt to what many observers describe as one of the most stringent online content regimes in the democratic world.