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The Government of India is preparing to further tighten regulations regarding online content. According to reports, the Central Government is considering reducing the current 2–3 hour timeframe allotted to social media platforms for removing objectionable or unlawful content to just one hour. However, a final decision on this matter has not yet been reached.

This proposal follows recent amendments made to the Information Technology Rules, 2021. In February, the government had already reduced the content removal deadline from the previous 24–36 hours to 2–3 hours. Now, there is speculation that this timeframe may be shortened even further.

Government officials state that this decision will depend on the performance of social media companies. The regulations will be made stricter only if the platforms effectively adhere to the existing deadlines. The government believes that the rapid removal of content can prevent the viral spread of false or misleading information.

What did Meta say?
Meanwhile, major tech companies like Meta have expressed concerns regarding the difficulties involved in implementing such stringent deadlines. They argue that vetting every type of content and making an appropriate decision within such a short timeframe could prove to be a challenging task.

To further bolster digital surveillance, the government is also considering granting other ministries—such as the Ministries of Home Affairs, Defence, and External Affairs—the authority to block content. Currently, this power rests exclusively with the Ministry of IT, granted under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000.

Furthermore, discussions are underway to expand the definition of "objectionable content" to potentially include defamatory material, incomplete information, or anti-national sentiments.

Although the government maintains that these measures are intended solely to curb unlawful content, anxiety is growing among users. Some individuals claim that satirical or critical posts are also being removed under these regulations.

If this new rule is implemented, it could bring about significant changes for both social media platforms and their users.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News18 Hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.