Amnesty International has warned that proposed amendments to India’s digital regulation rules could give authorities broad and intrusive powers to police, censor, and remove online content. The legal analysis highlights that the changes to the Information Technology (IT) rules, which are currently under public consultation, could significantly expand state control over digital platforms and user-generated content.
The proposed amendments include provisions that would allow authorities to remove content they deem inappropriate without requiring a formal complaint. They also introduce vague and overly broad categories for restricting content, expand government control over “news and current affairs” shared by ordinary users, and increase state access to personal user data. Amnesty cautions that these measures could undermine safeguards that currently protect online expression.
According to Amnesty International India’s Chair of Board, Aakar Patel, the evolving regulatory framework reflects a steady tightening of control over digital spaces. He warned that the latest amendments go further by effectively turning social media platforms into enforcement tools for the state, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression, privacy, and the risk of mass surveillance.
The organisation’s legal submission to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology also raises concerns about the removal of independent oversight in content regulation decisions. It notes that authorities would be able to order deletion or modification of content and impose penalties without complaint mechanisms or judicial review, while intermediaries could lose legal protection if they fail to comply with executive directives.
Amnesty further cautions that the amendments would allow indefinite retention of user data without clear safeguards, limitations, or independent oversight, increasing risks related to privacy and data misuse. The organisation has called for the withdrawal of the proposed changes, warning that they could significantly weaken digital rights protections in India.
The warning comes amid recent cases of online content being blocked or restricted in India, including the removal of satirical material and government-directed takedowns of social media accounts. Amnesty says these developments illustrate the growing risks of censorship and expanded state control over online expression.
