IT ministry tightens rules for online content removal

The government has introduced new procedural safeguards to content takedown rules, restricting the power to senior officials and mandating reasoned orders with monthly reviews.

- Sejal Sharma

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.

Previously, even junior officers, sometimes of ranks as low as section officers or deputy directors, could send removal notifications and without providing detailed legal reasoning.