MeitY’s notice, released on April 27, 2026, directs every social media intermediary to give priority to takedown orders issued by authorized government agencies when content poses a risk of disturbing public order. The directive cites the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the 2021 Intermediary Guidelines, demanding immediate action on posts that misrepresent current events, use manipulated media, or impersonate public officials.
The order comes as Delhi’s capital sees a surge of protests demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc have mobilised at Jantar Mantar, and police have erected barricades to prevent a march on the Election Commission headquarters. The heightened security response underscores the potential for social media content to inflame already tense public sentiment.
MeitY explicitly requires platforms to label or contextualise content that is digitally altered, synthetically generated, or presented as real-time events. Intermediaries must also strengthen grievance‑redressal mechanisms and ensure timely cooperation with law‑enforcement agencies. The ministry warned that any action taken must respect lawful expression while preventing unlawful activity.
Under the new guidance, platforms are expected to submit a compliance report to MeitY by May 5, 2026. Failure to meet the deadline could trigger a review of the intermediary’s moderation policies and potential legal penalties. The directive signals a tightening of content oversight amid a politically charged atmosphere.
Reactions from opposition leaders remain muted, but several MPs have called for stricter enforcement of the directive, arguing that unchecked misinformation fuels civic unrest. Meanwhile, social media companies have pledged to enhance monitoring tools and user education on content verification.