India has once again signaled a tougher stance on digital governance by drastically reducing the time social media platforms have to remove unlawful content. Under newly amended Information Technology (IT) rules, companies such as Meta, YouTube, and X will now be required to take down content within three hours of receiving a government notice, down from the earlier 36-hour window. The new regulation will come into effect on February 20, further intensifying scrutiny over how online speech is moderated in the country.
The change builds on India’s IT rules from 2021, which have been a source of conflict between Narendra Modi’s government and global tech companies for a long time. India has one of the biggest digital markets in the world, with over a billion people using the internet. However, it is also one of the most tightly regulated. The new rules make India even more well-known as one of the strictest countries when it comes to regulating online platforms. This puts the country’s social media takedown rules in the global spotlight.
It’s important to note that the government hasn’t given a public reason for shortening the compliance timeline. Some lawyers say that the new rule might not be possible to follow. Akash Karmakar, a partner at the Indian law firm Panag & Babu who specializes in technology law, said that the three-hour deadline is “practically impossible” and that it assumes “no application of mind or real-world ability to resist compliance.”
His comments reflect broader concerns within the legal and technology communities about the operational feasibility of the India social media takedown rules.
Platforms Under Pressure
Major platforms have been careful in their responses. Meta, the company that owns Facebook, didn’t say anything about the changes. Google, which owns YouTube, and X didn’t respond right away to media requests. Their silence shows how sensitive the issue is, since failing to comply could lead to fines or limits on operations in a key growth market.
The Indian government’s IT rules give it the power to order the removal of any content that is against the law, including that has to do with national security, public order, and sovereignty. In the last few years, the government has given more people the power to issue takedown orders. This has upset digital rights advocates who are worried about too much power and censorship.
The tightening of the India social media takedown rules comes amid mounting global pressure on platforms to act faster against harmful or illegal content. From Brussels to Brasilia, governments are asking for faster responses, more openness, and better ways to hold people accountable. Critics, on the other hand, say that India’s three-hour requirement goes beyond what most international standards allow, making it hard for platforms to decide if flagged content is legal or not.
Thousands of Takedown Orders
Social media companies’ transparency reports show how big the enforcement is. Reports say that India has given thousands of takedown orders in the past few years IT rules . Meta blocked more than 28,000 pieces of content in India in the first six months of 2025 because the government asked them to. These figures illustrate how central the India social media takedown rules have become to the daily operations of global platforms.
It’s not new for the government and tech companies to fight with each other. Digital rights groups have often sounded the alarm, and in the past, people like Elon Musk have been involved in disputes. His company X has openly criticized demands to remove content in places like India.
As the February 20 implementation date approaches, companies face a difficult balancing act: complying swiftly with the India social media takedown rules while safeguarding user trust and freedom of expression. The most recent change not only changes the way India governs the internet, but it also adds fuel to a global discussion about how to draw the line between regulation, responsibility, and censorship online.
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