NEW DELHI: The Central Government has proposed amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 to expand regulatory oversight to news and current affairs content shared by non-publisher users on social media platforms.
The Ministry has invited stakeholder feedback on the draft amendments, setting April 14, 2026, as the deadline for submissions.
A key proposal seeks to clarify that Part III of the IT Rules will apply to intermediaries hosting news content posted by users who are not registered publishers, effectively bringing user-generated dissemination of news within the digital media ethics framework. The draft specifies that the provisions will cover content hosted, displayed, uploaded, published, transmitted or shared on intermediary platforms.
Another major change includes the proposed insertion of Rule 3(4), mandating intermediaries to comply with Ministry-issued advisories, directions, SOPs and guidelines as part of due diligence under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. It also clarifies that data retention requirements will operate alongside other applicable legal provisions.
The draft further seeks to strengthen Rule 14 by expanding the role of the Inter-Departmental Committee, allowing it to examine not only complaints but also matters referred directly by the Ministry, thereby enhancing executive oversight of digital content.
The Ministry described the amendments as clarificatory and procedural, aimed at improving legal certainty, strengthening enforceability of directions and ensuring effective regulation of intermediary-hosted content. Stakeholders have been asked to submit rule-wise comments via email. (Agencies)
