Summary
India has expanded its censorship powers by allowing more government officials to demand the removal of online content they consider harmful. The new platform, called Sahyog, lets federal, state, and even district-level officials issue takedown requests to social media companies. This move builds on existing laws and could affect how online speech is regulated in the country.
Key Facts
- India introduced a platform called Sahyog that lets more officials demand the removal of online content.
- Previously, only two federal ministries could issue such takedown notices.
- The Sahyog platform became active in October 2024.
- Since then, officials have requested the removal of content from 3,465 URLs.
- Social media companies risk losing legal protection if they do not comply with takedown demands.
- The government relies on Section 79 of the IT Act to expand these censorship powers.
- At least 72 tech companies, including Google and Meta, have joined Sahyog.
- Critics are concerned about the lack of transparency and increased censorship.
