Key Points
- IT Rules amended on 10 February 2026 to regulate deepfakes and AI-generated content
- Platforms must remove unlawful AI content within 3 hours, down from 36 hours
- AI Safety Institute established to test systems and evaluate emerging risks
The Centre has strengthened regulations governing artificial intelligence, mandating that social media platforms remove unlawful AI-generated content within three hours of receiving a government order, Union minister of state for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (12 August).
Responding to a question on AI misuse, Prasada outlined a comprehensive legal framework that addresses deepfakes, synthetic audio and video, and AI-powered fraud. The revised Information Technology Rules, amended on 10 February 2026, impose stricter compliance timelines and require platforms to deploy technical measures preventing the creation and spread of harmful synthetic content.
The minister said the government had reduced the deadline for removing unlawful information from 36 hours to 3 hours upon valid government or court orders. For grievance redressal involving sensitive matters such as nudity or impersonation, the timeline has been cut from 24 hours to 2 hours.
AI governance framework
India released AI Governance Guidelines on 5 November 2025, establishing a national framework for safe and responsible AI development. Three institutional mechanisms have been initiated under these guidelines.
The AI Governance and Economic Group, a high-level inter-ministerial body, will steer the development of India’s national AI governance strategy. A Technology and Policy Expert Committee will support technical and policy recommendations, while the AI Safety Institute will undertake safety research, develop standards, test AI systems and evaluate emerging risks.
Prasada said India’s AI strategy builds on its IT sector, which generates annual revenue of $300 billion and employs 60 lakh workers. The IndiaAI Mission has seven pillars including development of AI models, applications, datasets, talent development and affordable compute.
Platform obligations
Under the amended rules, intermediaries must ensure clear labelling and traceable metadata for permissible AI-generated content, enabling users to identify synthetically generated material. Social media platforms with 50 lakh or more registered users in India face additional requirements.
These significant social media intermediaries must help law enforcement trace originators of serious content, use automated tools to detect unlawful material, publish compliance reports and appoint local officers based in India. They must also deploy technical measures to proactively identify content depicting rape, child sexual abuse or material previously removed from their platforms.
The rules explicitly cover child sexual exploitation material, non-consensual intimate imagery and impersonation. Platforms failing to observe these obligations lose their exemption from third-party liability under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act.
Intermediaries must inform users through terms of service about consequences of sharing unlawful content, including account suspension or termination. Users whose complaints are not addressed can appeal at the Grievance Appellate Committee portal.
Legal provisions
The minister outlined existing laws addressing AI misuse. The IT Act prescribes penalties for identity theft under Section 66C, impersonation under Section 66D, privacy violations under Section 66E and publishing obscene content under Sections 67 and 67A. Section 69A empowers the government to issue blocking orders to intermediaries.
By the numbers
- 3 hours
- New deadline to remove unlawful AI content
- $300 billion
- Annual revenue of India's IT sector
- 60 lakh
- Workforce in India's IT sector
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, prescribes punishment for cheating by personation under Section 319 and forgery including false electronic records under Section 336. Section 353 penalises false statements causing public mischief, while organised cybercrimes involving deepfakes can be prosecuted under Section 111.
The Ministry of Home Affairs operates the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, which runs the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in. A toll-free helpline, 1930, assists citizens in lodging cyber complaints. The Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, launched in 2021, enables immediate reporting of financial frauds.
Since police and public order are state subjects under the Constitution, states and union territories remain primarily responsible for investigating cybercrimes through their law enforcement agencies.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the new deadline for removing deepfakes in India?
Social media platforms must now remove unlawful AI-generated content within three hours of receiving a valid government or court order, reduced from the previous 36-hour deadline under the amended IT Rules.
What is the AI Safety Institute?
The AI Safety Institute is a new body established under India's AI Governance Guidelines to undertake safety research, develop standards, test AI systems and evaluate emerging risks from artificial intelligence.
Which platforms are classified as significant social media intermediaries?
Social media platforms with 50 lakh or more registered users in India are classified as significant social media intermediaries and face additional compliance obligations including traceability requirements and mandatory local officers.
Where can citizens report cybercrimes in India?
Citizens can report cybercrimes on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in or call the toll-free helpline 1930 for assistance in lodging complaints.
