The Indian government has curtailed the number of officials authorized to issue online content takedown orders, following a high-profile legal dispute with Elon Musk’s social media platform, X. The battle centered on a controversial 2023 policy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that allowed thousands of officials to remove content from the internet. Previously, even police inspectors could issue takedown orders for cartoons and satirical posts, which led X to mount one of its most prominent legal challenges against government content-removal rules. In September, the Karnataka High Court ruled against X, stating that its challenge lacked merit and that the platform must comply with Indian laws. However, on Wednesday, India’s IT Ministry revised the rules, limiting takedown authority to senior officials.
Under the new regulations, only bureaucrats holding the rank of Joint Secretary or above, and police officials at Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank or higher, can issue content removal orders. The government noted that while the earlier powers extended to many officials, the revised system will still empower hundreds of top-level personnel to act. Officials stated the move aims to curb the spread of illegal content while ensuring accountability online. Additionally, all takedown orders must now include a “reasoned intimation,” detailing the legal basis, statutory provisions invoked, nature of the unlawful content, and the specific website address. The new rules are set to take effect on November 15, 2025.
