India's MeitY expands control over digital platforms amid new IT rule draft and Meta scrutiny

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has proposed amendments to the 2021 Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, notably Rule 3(4), which would formally embed government advisories, guidelines and clarifications within the intermediary due‑diligence framework. This change is expected to increase executive influence over online content governance and affect the safe‑harbour protections enjoyed by platforms.

Simultaneously, MeitY has paused Meta’s rollout of a username feature on WhatsApp in India, seeking detailed explanations of how the feature mitigates cyber‑crime risks. The government has also issued notices to Telegram and Signal for similar concerns. In a separate action, MeitY summoned Meta to explain paid Instagram advertisements that promoted child sexual abuse material, ordering the removal of such ads and demanding a response within seven days.

Together, these actions signal a tightening of enforcement of the Indian IT Act against major global platforms, compelling them to adjust product features, moderation practices and compliance mechanisms.