The government is taking steps to strengthen social media regulations, with proposed amendments suggesting that individual users might also fall under a more rigorous compliance framework, indicating a noteworthy shift in India’s digital content regulation.
According to the proposed modifications, platforms may be required to adhere to government advisories without discretion. “Advisories, guidelines and SOPs, provided they are issued as a written order, must be followed by platforms,” states the draft, reflecting a transition from advisory to mandatory compliance.
The scope of compliance is expanding to encompass not just intermediaries and publishers but also individual users posting content related to news and global affairs. This suggests that users may now have similar responsibilities.
Furthermore, the inter-departmental committee tasked with reviewing online content could see its authority broadened to include individuals, rather than just publishers. The draft regulations are now available for public consultation, with feedback welcomed for 15 days until April 14.
First Published: Mar 30, 2026 10:38 PM IST
