India plans to empower multiple ministries with direct authority to block social media content under Section 69A of the IT Act. Currently, only the IT Ministry holds this power. The move, prompted by rising deepfake and misinformation cases, aims to decentralize control and speed up takedown compliance within hours.
The proposal follows recent incidents involving deepfake videos of senior officials, highlighting the need for faster intervention. An inter-ministerial team is drafting rules to allow ministries like Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs, and I&B to issue blocking orders directly, reducing reliance on the IT Ministry.
Proposed Changes
• Ministries beyond IT to gain blocking powers under Section 69A
• Compliance window for takedowns may shrink to 2–3 hours
• Rules to be amended, not the IT Act itself
Industry Impact
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube will face stricter timelines for compliance. Decentralization could improve response speed but raises questions about oversight and free speech.
Key Highlights
• Proposal to decentralize social media blocking powers
• Home, Defence, External Affairs, I&B ministries may gain authority
• Triggered by deepfake and misinformation incidents
• Compliance window reduced to 2–3 hours
• Rules amended under IT Act Section 69A
Sources: NDTV, Moneycontrol, The Indian Express