Now: MeitY has proposed continuous display of AI-generated labels for SGI. Consultation period for this rule + previously proposed amendments (binding advisories+part III application to intermediaries and news content by non-publishers) extended until May 7.

H/t: Jikku Varghese Jacob

Edition 26: Details of changes to draft online gaming rules under consideration Online games from specific countries could require mandatory registration with the Online Gaming Authority as per latest discussions within MeitY.

New: Country of origin, harm posed to users and national security could be used to mandate registration of specific companies, games and categories of games with the Online Gaming Authority, as per discussions within MeitY.

Link to full story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-26...

Now: MeitY has extended public consultation on draft amendments to IT Rules by two weeks until April 29.

Edition 25: 'No liability intended for intermediaries under Part III,' govt to industry Intermediaries have been added to Part III of IT Rules only to enable MIB to contact lay users posting news content, IT ministry and MIB officials told the industry in an April 7 meeting.

New: Intermediaries included in Part III of IT Rules to allow MIB to contact lay users who post news content, govt officials told industry in April 7 meeting.

Link to story with all the meeting details: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-25...

Edition 24: Second legal challenge filed against MeitY's March 18 order blocking 12 X accounts The owner of X account @Nher_who has challenged the Centre's Section 69A blocking order against his X account, citing violations of the blocking law and rules.

New: X/Twitter user @nher_who has challenged the Section 69A blocking order against his X account, citing violations of 2009 Blocking Rules. 2nd legal challenge against MeitY's March 18 blocking order; first was by X user @DrNimoYadav.

Link to full story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-24...

Comments sought until April 14, 2026.

Now: MeitY has proposed amending the IT Rules 2021 to:

1. Allow MIB to issue blocking orders to intermediaries and for news content posted by users who are not publishers under the notified rules, ie, influencers

2. Make compliance with advisories issued by MeitY binding for intermediaries

Edition 23: 'Do we need regulation for bot accounts?' MeitY asks industry Citing social harm from bot-led amplification of misinformation, MeitY asked industry on February 12 how they dealt with bots, and if regulation is required.

New: In a meeting, MeitY asked if bot accounts needed to be specifically regulated due to social harms caused by bot-induced amplification of misinfo, and if consent could be required before using people’s likeness in legal AI-generated content.

Link: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-23...

Alternate means of identification remain available. Not clear how Aadhaar authentication helps in this case (except surveillance through one giant database).

New: The Lok Sabha Secretariat has been allowed to use Aadhaar authentication to verify visitors' identity. Gazette notification reveals that the parliament has an internal visitor database with biometric (facial and fingerprint) details of visitors.

Edition 22: 'Comply with amendments or face legal consequences': IT secretary to industry In a no holds barred meeting on February 25, the information technology secretary told intermediaries that no extension or exemption from compliance with the amended IT Rules will be granted.

New: In a meeting on February 25, IT Secretary S. Krishnan told tech companies that non-compliance with the law, including the recent amendments to IT Rules, would result in legal consequences.

Article with all the meeting details: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-22...

Update: This platform, called MAITRI, has been discussed by MoSPI Secretary Saurabh Garg at multiple panels today.

+AI Impact Commons, a repository of AI use cases, is expected to be formally announced this evening at the summit. Here’s its website: www.aiimpactcommons.global

Edition 21: 'Put 3-hour takedown, deepfake amendments in abeyance': USISPF to MeitY In the most strongly worded submission made thus far, the USISPF criticised the amendments to IT Rules for being unfeasible and called out the inefficiencies of I4C's Sahyog portal.

New: USISPF has asked MeitY to put the recent amendments to IT Rules in abeyance, initiate a consultation, and defer enforcement. Reasons cited include criticism of government's own takedown systems and processes, including Sahyog portal.

Link to article: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-21...

Edition 20: 'Hold consultations on amendments to content takedown timelines': Industry bodies to MeitY IAMAI and BIF wrote to the Indian IT ministry on February 16, criticising the recent amendments to intermediary rules that reduced content takedown timelines to as little as two hours.

New: In two separate letters sent to MeitY secretary on February 16, IAMAI and BIF have called for stakeholder consultation on the recently notified amendments to IT Rules, particularly those related to reduced content takedown timelines.

Link: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-20...

Edition 19: Platform enabling global access to pooled compute, datasets to be announced at India AI Summit The platform, part of the charter of the working group on democratising AI resources, will serve as "a shared infrastructure and knowledge hub" for countries.

New: To expand global access to AI infrastructure including pooled compute and datasets, the Indian government plans to announce a platform at the India AI Impact Summit this week, MoSPI secretary Saurabh Garg said in a conversation with me.

Link: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-19...

Now: MeitY has notified the deepfake amendment to IT Rules.

New: While ₹10 crore have been allocated for the Data Protection Board in FY27, the budget has been revised from ₹5 crore to ₹2 crore for FY26. ₹2 crore had been allocated towards the DPB for FY25 back in July 2024 but it wasn’t used as per actuals.

Edition 18: IT Ministry wants to shorten data protection compliance timelines from 18 months In a closed-door meeting on January 22, MeitY gave large technology companies time until February 4 to give feedback on immediate enactment of certain provisions.

New: MeitY mulling immediately enacting some provisions of DPDP Act/Rules related to govt access to personal data, exemptions for authorised agencies, and cross-border data flows. Companies given time until Feb 4 to give their feedback.

Detailed story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-18...

won’t allow obscene imagery, this person said.

It isn’t yet clear if this is a number meant only for Indian accounts/content or a global number.

Now: In response to Indian IT ministry’s notice over NCII generated by Grok, X wrote to MeitY that it had removed over 3,500 pieces of content and deleted over 600 accounts, a senior government official said.

The company said that it would comply with Indian laws and going forward,

Edition 17: Govt considering ethics code for social media users, online news: MIB in Supreme Court MIB has proposed amending the Digital Media Ethics Code under IT Rules, 2021 to that effect. It has also proposed provisions to deal with obscenity online, deriving from Section 67 of the IT Act.

New: The govt is considering creating an ethics code for social media users, and online news, MIB told the SC in a written submission on November 20. It also proposed obscenity related amendments to IT Rules, 2021, for all online content.

Link to story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-17...

Analysis: Of MeitY’s November 21 advisory asking intermediaries to ‘proactively’ identify and remove content glorifying violence, in light of the blast near Red Fort.

Link to story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-16...

3. Mandatorily report to LEAs offences 'perceived' to be committed by a user that threaten national security as per BNSS

4. Assist LEAs in investigation/protection by giving info, including to verify identities

Now: MeitY has issued an advisory to all intermediaries wrt content related to the blast at Red Fort. Intermediaries must:

1. Quickly and 'proactively' identify and remove info affecting national security

2. Disable/remove such info within timelines stipulated in IT Rules, 2021

Edition 15: Details of Digipub's challenge to Karnataka HC order on online content takedown provisions Digipub wants to join X's writ appeal against a September order that dismissed X's petition against the use of specific IT Act provisions, I4C's Sahyog portal used to issue online content takedown not...

New: Details of Digipub, Abhinandan Sekhri's intervention application challenging the September 2025 K'taka HC order against X's petition on the use of Section 79(3)(b), Rule 3(1)(d) and Sahyog portal issue takedown notices

Link to story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-15...

Now: In response to the media coverage of the Red Fort blast, MIB has issued an advisory to all TV (news) channels to avoid broadcasting visuals that could aid in carrying out unlawful acts (such as those on how to make explosives, or justifying such violence).

Edition 14: X challenges Karnataka HC order on content takedown provisions X has challenged the single judge's order dismissing its petition against the Centre's use of Section 79(3)(b) of IT Act, Rule 3(1)(d) of IT Rules, and Sahyog portal to send content takedown notices.

New: X, formerly Twitter, has challenged the single judge bench's order dismissing its petition against the use of S79.3.b, R3.1.d and Sahyog portal to send takedown notices.

Link to story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-14...

Edition 14: X challenges Karnataka HC order on content takedown provisions X has challenged the single judge's order dismissing its petition against the Centre's use of Section 79(3)(b) of IT Act, Rule 3(1)(d) of IT Rules, and Sahyog portal to send content takedown notices.

New: X, formerly Twitter, has challenged the single judge bench's order dismissing its petition against the use of S79.3.b, R3.1.d and Sahyog portal to send takedown notices.

Link to story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-14...

Now:

1. Parts of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 come into force today, others will come into force 12/18 months from today.

2. DPDP Rules notified. Some come into effect today, others 12/18 months from today.

3. Data Protection Board established and will consist of 4 members.

Remove deepfakes within 3 hours of being notified: Election Commission to political parties This notice to all parties comes a week after a BJP delegation, led by current IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, approached the Election Commission of India (ECI). | Latest News India

Details of two previous ECI advisories from May 2024 and January 2025:

www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/r...

www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi...