3 weeks ago
India Cuts Social Media Takedown Deadline to Two Hours
India's government makes rules for websites like social media apps where people share pictures, videos, and messages.
Sometimes people post fake, mean, or harmful things on these websites.
Now, the government says these websites must remove bad content very quickly — within two hours.
Earlier, they had 24 hours to do it.
The government is especially worried about fake videos and pictures made by computers that look real, called deepfakes.
The new rules also say big websites with more than five million users in India must use computer tools to find harmful videos on their own.
If a website does not follow the rules, it could lose special legal protection and get into trouble.
Websites must also answer people's complaints much faster than before.
The rules were changed on February 10, 2026, and the government told everyone about them on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
Social media platforms must now remove sensitive content within two hours, down from the previous 24-hour deadline.
The amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, were made on February 10, 2026, to tackle deepfakes and other AI-generated content.
Unlawful content must be removed within three hours of receiving valid, reasoned directions from the government or a court, down from 36 hours.
Grievance redressal timelines were cut from 72 hours to 36 hours, and complaints on sensitive matters such as nudity and impersonation must be acted on within two hours.
Significant social media intermediaries with over 50 lakh users in India must use automated tools to proactively detect rape, child sexual abuse, and similar previously removed content, or risk losing safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act.
- Who
- The Indian government (the Centre) and social media platforms, especially significant social media intermediaries (SSMIs)
- What
- The Centre amended the IT Rules to reduce the sensitive content removal deadline to two hours and tighten other compliance timelines
- Where
- India
- When
- Official statement issued Thursday, August 06, 2026; amendments made on February 10, 2026
- Why
- To strengthen the legal framework against harms from synthetically generated information, including deepfakes and other AI-generated content
Key facts
- Sensitive content takedown deadline
- 2 hours (previously 24 hours)
- Unlawful content removal deadline
- 3 hours after valid government or court intimation (previously 36 hours)
- Grievance redressal timeline
- 36 hours (previously 72 hours)
- Sensitive complaint response deadline
- 2 hours for nudity and impersonation complaints (previously 24 hours)
- Amended rules
- Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
- Amendment date
- February 10, 2026
- SSMI threshold
- More than 50 lakh (5 million) users in India
- Non-compliance risk
- Loss of safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act; possible prosecution
Sources
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