Government Proposes Changes to Bring User-Posted News Content Under IT Rules

The Indian government has introduced a draft proposal to amend the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, with the aim of expanding the scope of online regulation. Under the proposed changes, news and current affairs content shared by individual users on social media platforms may be brought within the regulatory framework currently applied to publishers and intermediaries.

Traditionally, IT rules have primarily focused on regulating digital platforms such as social media companies and digital news publishers, requiring them to follow due diligence norms and content moderation standards. However, the new proposal suggests that user-generated posts related to news or current affairs could also be subject to oversight, potentially including mechanisms for moderation, grievance redressal, and even takedown directions in certain circumstances.

Officials say the proposed amendments are part of broader efforts to update the regulatory landscape for digital content, addressing concerns about misinformation and unverified news spreading rapidly online. Stakeholders and the public have been invited to provide feedback on the draft by mid-April.

Supporters of the move argue that it would ensure greater accountability for all forms of news dissemination on digital platforms, while critics caution that extending regulations to individual users could raise questions about freedom of expression and place added compliance burdens on content creators.

The draft changes also clarify how existing parts of the IT rules — previously applicable to intermediaries and registered publishers — may be extended to cover user-posted content, reflecting a shift in how online speech and content sharing are governed in the digital age.