Govt Tightens Social Media Rules, Platforms Must Remove Sensitive Content Within 2 Hours

Published 6 August 2026 · india

News india Govt Tightens Social Media Rules, Platforms Must Remove Sensitive Content Within 2 Hours Govt Tightens Social Media Rules, Platforms Must Remove Sensitive Content

News india Govt Tightens Social Media Rules, Platforms Must Remove Sensitive Content Within 2 Hours Govt Tightens Social Media Rules, Platforms Must Remove Sensitive Content Within 2 Hours Published By, Last Updated: August 06, 2026, 21:25 IST The revised IT Rules also require faster action against deepfakes and AI-generated content, with social media platforms risking the loss of legal immunity for non-compliance. Rapid Read The Centre has reduced the takedown deadline for sensitive online content to two hours under amended IT Rules aimed at tackling deepfakes and AI-generated content. (IMAGE: REUTERS) The Centre has reduced the time available to social media platforms to remove sensitive online content to two hours from the earlier 24 hours, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

The change is part of amendments made to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, on February 10, 2026, aimed at strengthening the regulatory framework to tackle harms arising from synthetically generated information (SGI), including deepfakes and other AI-generated content. The amendments also tighten compliance timelines across categories. The deadline for removing unlawful information upon receiving valid, reasoned intimation from the appropriate government or court orders has been reduced from 36 hours to three hours. Similarly, the grievance redressal timeline has been cut from 72 hours to 36 hours, while complaints relating to sensitive matters, including nudity and impersonation, must now be acted upon within two hours instead of 24 hours.

Under the IT Rules, significant social media intermediaries (SSMIs) — platforms with more than 50 lakh users in India — are required to make reasonable efforts to deploy appropriate technical measures, including automated tools or other suitable mechanisms, to proactively identify content depicting rape, child sexual abuse or related conduct, as well as content substantially similar to material that has previously been removed. The statement said intermediaries that fail to comply with their legal obligations under the IT Rules risk losing the safe harbour protection available under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. Such non-compliance could also expose them to prosecution or other action under applicable laws, it added. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18.