Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
IT ministry tightens rules for online content removal
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
|October 23, 2025
THE RULES WILL LIMIT CONTENT REMOVAL POWERS TO OFFICIALS AT JOINT SECRETARY RANK OR ABOVE AND DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OR HIGHER IN POLICE
The government has introduced new procedural safeguards to content takedown rules, restricting the power to senior officials and mandating reasoned orders with monthly reviews.
The changes in rule 3(1)(4) of the IT Rules 2021 introduce a three-tier system that will come into effect on November 15.
Once notified, the rules will limit content removal powers to officials at joint secretary rank or above in central ministries, their equivalents in states, and deputy inspector general or higher in police forces.
All intimations must now include specific legal basis, statutory provisions and exact URLs, replacing earlier broad notifications with detailed “reasoned intimations.” A secretary-level officer will review all orders monthly to ensure necessity and proportionality.
“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.
This story is from the October 23, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Bengaluru.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Hindustan Times Bengaluru
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
'Winning WPL, World Cup made me more positive'
{ RENUKA SINGH THAKUR } INDIA BOWLER
2 mins
December 19, 2025
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
A chance for Surya to finish South Africa series on a high
A good knock in the fifth and final T201 will soothe the nerves of team management and the Indian fans
2 mins
December 19, 2025
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
India’s top-performing AI stock faces scrutiny after 55,000% surge
The world’s best-performing stock is turning into a cautionary tale for investors chasing outsized returns from the artificial intelligence boom.
2 mins
December 19, 2025
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
Female celebs raise concern over Al misuse
The rampant exploitation of AI-generated images on social media has targeted several female celebrities in recent times, and many of them have now come out on Instagram to voice their concerns over the serious matter.
1 min
December 19, 2025
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
Adani Group’s internal project manager to raise $1 billion
A private company owned by billionaire Gautam Adani and his family has been entrusted to oversee the infrastructure projects of all listed firms of the Adani Group as part of the tycoon’s plans to capture margins that would otherwise have gone to external parties
2 mins
December 19, 2025
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
26 Indians killed while serving in Russian military: Centre in RS
Twenty-six Indian nationals were killed while serving in the Russian armed forces and seven have been reported missing, while efforts are on to ensure the early discharge of 50 more, the government informed Parliament on Thursday.
1 mins
December 19, 2025
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
Cash-rich Airtel pares debt as Vodafone Idea borrows to stay afloat
Two of India’s biggest private telecom operators—Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi)—are looking to shore up their finances and fund network investments from vastly different starting points, pursuing sharply different strategies of equity-led deleveraging and debt-ied survival, respectively.
1 mins
December 19, 2025
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
OSCARS TO MOVE OFF BROADCAST TV TO YOUTUBE STARTING 2029
The annual Academy Awards telecast will move from the ABC broadcast network to stream live on YouTube around the world starting in 2029, organisers said on Wednesday.
1 min
December 19, 2025
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
India inks Oman FTA, gains duty-free boost
For India's exports, the deal presents untapped potential across key sectors
1 min
December 19, 2025
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARD DEFERMENT TRIGGERS FURORE
A decision by the Sahitya Akademi to defer the announcement of its annual prestigious awards on Thursday sparked a controversy, with the Opposition alleging interference by the government and the Union culture ministry saying as per a prior memorandum of understanding, prior approval was required.
1 min
December 19, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size