Amended IT rules add safeguards, transparency, Centre tells Lok Sabha
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has informed the Lok Sabha that the amendments to the Information Technology (IT) Rules, carried out in November 2025, have introduced additional safeguards to enhance transparency and effectiveness. In a written reply to an unstarred question from Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, the ministry said these safeguards include provisions for the removal of online content deemed unlawful, directions issued by senior officials, and periodic review of such actions.
According to the reply, any direction to intermediaries for the removal of unlawful information must clearly specify the legal basis, the relevant statutory provision, the nature of the unlawful act, and the specific URL or electronic location of the content. The ministry clarified that such intimations can only be issued by a senior officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary, or an equivalent officer. In cases where such a rank is not appointed, the intimation may be issued by a director or an officer of equivalent rank. If the government has authorised an agency for this purpose, then the intimation is issued through a single corresponding officer in that agency. Additionally, an officer not below the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police may also issue such directives.
To ensure that actions taken under the amended rules are proportionate and lawful, the ministry said intimations are subjected to a monthly review by a Secretary of the Government. This layered oversight is intended to prevent arbitrary takedown orders and ensure accountability in the content regulation process.
Mr. Owaisi had sought information on the number of content removal orders, blocking orders, and account suspension requests issued by the Union Government during the last year. The ministry’s reply, however, did not include these specific figures. The omission may draw attention from lawmakers and civil society groups who have repeatedly called for greater disclosure of such data.
The amendments are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to regulate digital content while attempting to balance freedom of expression with security concerns. The new safeguards are meant to create a structured process with checks at multiple levels. While the government maintains that these changes bring greater transparency, critics argue that the actual enforcement remains opaque and that the absence of published data undermines the stated objective.
The reply comes amid broader debates over the regulation of online platforms in India. Stakeholders have been urging clearer procedures and independent oversight. The ministry’s response clarifies the procedural requirements for content takedowns, but the lack of quantitative information may fuel further demands for detailed reporting in Parliament and in public disclosures.
