India Moves to Regulate Influencers and Podcasters in Sweeping Online Content Crackdown

The Indian government has proposed new rules that could significantly expand its control over online content, bringing influencers, podcasters and independent creators under the same regulatory framework as traditional news publishers.

The proposed amendments, introduced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), aim to broaden the scope of India’s existing IT rules. These rules currently apply to registered digital news publishers but would now extend to individuals who are not officially classified as publishers yet share content related to “news and current affairs” on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and X.

Under the proposal, such users would be required to follow a government-mandated “code of ethics,” raising concerns among experts that the definition of who qualifies as a news publisher could become significantly blurred.

A key element of the proposed changes involves “safe harbour” protections, which shield social media platforms from legal liability for content posted by users. The government has suggested that platforms must comply with official orders and guidelines to retain this protection.

Experts warn this could give authorities increased leverage over tech companies, effectively compelling them to remove or restrict content flagged by the government. Critics argue that this may lead to stricter moderation policies and reduced tolerance for controversial or critical viewpoints.

Digital rights activists and independent media creators have voiced strong opposition to the proposals, warning that they could enable sweeping censorship. They argue the rules may be used to target dissenting voices, including journalists, commentators and political critics.

The government has defended the proposed amendments, stating that they are necessary to strengthen oversight of digital content and combat the spread of fake news, hate speech and deepfakes.

Officials have also emphasised that the proposals are still under consultation, with public feedback invited until 14 April.