The Union Government is reportedly considering a significant policy shift that would grant select ministries the direct authority to block online content. Under the proposed framework, ministries such as Home Affairs, Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Information and Broadcasting could soon possess independent powers to issue blocking orders to social media intermediaries and websites, aiming to accelerate the removal of content deemed a threat to national security or public order.
Current IT act and its loopholes
Currently, the process for blocking online content is centralized under Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, where a designated officer at MeitY processes requests from various agencies after review by an inter-ministerial committee. The new proposal seeks to decentralize this authority, allowing “nodal officers” within specific key ministries to act independently in urgent scenarios.
The move is designed to reduce the response time for flagging and removing “illegal” content, ranging from financial scams and deepfakes to communal misinformation. Internal discussions suggest that this mechanism would apply primarily to content that violates established guidelines regarding the sovereignty and integrity of India.
“The digital landscape moves at a pace that often outstrips traditional bureaucratic oversight,” stated a senior official familiar with the development. “By empowering specific ministries to act directly, the government can ensure a more agile response to emerging digital threats that require immediate intervention.”
Amendment in current IT laws
Digital rights advocate and legal expert, Raman Chawla, expressed a different perspective: “While speed is important, the current centralized system provides a layer of checks and balances. Shifting to a decentralized model raises questions about uniform application of the law and the potential for overreach without a singular point of accountability.”
This development follows a series of updates to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules. Over the last two years, the government has introduced Fact-Check Units (FCUs) and stricter compliance requirements for “Significant Social Media Intermediaries” (SSMIs). Historically, content blocking has been a point of contention between the Centre and global tech platforms, with several cases reaching the High Courts over the perceived lack of transparency in take-down notices.
If implemented, this policy would represent a major shift in India’s internet governance. For digital platforms, it means managing compliance requests from multiple government touchpoints rather than a single portal. For the public, it could lead to a swifter removal of harmful content, but it also prompts a debate regarding the “due process” of digital free speech and the criteria used by different departments to define “objectionable” material.
The proposal is currently in the consultation phase among various stakeholders and legal departments. A draft notification is expected to be released for public feedback before any formal amendments are made to the IT Rules. Moving forward, the industry will be watching closely to see if a centralized “oversight body” is maintained to review the orders issued by individual ministries to ensure legal consistency.
