India Proposes Rules for User-Generated News on Social Media

The Indian government has proposed amendments to the 2021 Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, extending regulatory oversight to user-generated news and current affairs content on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, X, and Facebook. Announced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on March 30, 2026, the draft seeks to bring independent creators, influencers, and ordinary users sharing such material under a framework previously limited to professional publishers and online streaming services.

The changes primarily target Part III of the rules, which govern digital media ethics. Under the proposal, content created or shared by non-publishers—including videos, posts, or commentary on current events—would be subject to review if complaints arise. An interdepartmental committee, established under Rule 14, would examine grievances or ministry-referred cases and recommend actions such as content removal, mandatory corrections, disclaimers, reclassification of posts, or public apologies. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would then issue directives to platforms for enforcement, including...