India Mandates Three-Hour Takedowns for AI Deepfakes

The Government of India implemented the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026, on February 20, 2026. These regulations target synthetically generated information (SGI) and deepfakes, mandating that platforms like Meta, X, and YouTube prominently label AI-generated content and embed persistent metadata for traceability. The rules also require users to declare when uploading synthetic material and mandate that platforms deploy automated tools to identify prohibited content, such as non-consensual intimate imagery and child sexual abuse material.

A central component of the amendments is a drastic reduction in compliance windows. Platforms must now remove unlawful content flagged by the government or a court within three hours, down from 36. Urgent requests to remove non-consensual nudity must be addressed within two hours, reduced from 24. Failure to comply may result in the immediate loss of safe harbor protections, exposing companies to civil and criminal liability.

Digital rights groups, including the Internet Freedom Foundation, criticized the timelines as "practically impossible," arguing they force platforms toward automated over-removal and systemic censorship. Meanwhile, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw defended the measures at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, asserting that global platforms must operate within India's constitutional and cultural framework. Prime Minister Narendra Modi further called for the establishment of global standards to combat the destabilizing effects of fabricated content on open society. Following the summit, the government began negotiating age-based restrictions for young users to enhance online child safety.