New IT Act amendments from Nov 1; To set strict controls on removing unlawful content online

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) introduced new safeguards for removal of unlawful online content by intermediaries in order to bring transparency.

These new amendments falls under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act), and will come into effect from November 1, 2025.

The rules were earlier notified on February 25, 2021.

Under Rule 3(1)(d), intermediaries will remove the unlawful online content upon receiving actual information either through a court order of any notification from the Government.

"Any intimation to intermediaries for removal of unlawful information can now only be issued by a senior officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary, or equivalent, or, where such rank is not appointed, a Director or an officer equivalent in rank and, where so authorised, acting through a single corresponding officer in its authorised agency, where such agency is so appointed," MeitY released a statement.

“We have raised the level of accountability in the government. It has to be a senior level officer who can authorise,” said Union Minister for Electronics and IT (Meity) Ashwini Vaishnaw at a press briefing.

The amendments are said to place a balance between the constitutional rights of citizens and the regulatory powers of the State.