The government is considering a proposal to allow multiple ministries, beyond the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to issue orders to social media platforms for blocking fake or harmful content.
As per media reports, the move is aimed at curbing misinformation more effectively by decentralising authority and enabling faster action against high-risk digital content.
Currently, only MeitY can issue blocking orders under Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. However, an inter-ministerial team is working on a proposal to extend similar powers to other key departments, including the Ministries of External Affairs, Finance, and Defence.
Speaking on this, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Information and Broadcasting told NDTV, “Empowering multiple ministries to issue takedown orders would help stop fake content from going viral. Once deepfakes are identified and fact-checked, a faster response time is essential to prevent public misinformation.”
The minister added that such a measure would allow specialised ministries to act quickly in areas critical to national security, foreign affairs, and economic stability.
Deepfakes Highlight Urgent Need
The proposal comes in the wake of a recent incident involving a deepfake video of former Army Chief Manoj Pande. The manipulated video falsely portrayed him making controversial remarks, including claims that the Indian Army was becoming an “ethnic” rather than an “ethical” force, and warning of a potential mutiny. It also referenced Assam and suggested foreign influence within the armed forces.
The Press Information Bureau clarified that the video was fake, circulated by Pakistani propaganda accounts, and aimed at misleading the public and undermining trust in the Indian Armed Forces. Minister Vaishnaw said that once identified, PIB fact-checked the content and issued a blocking order.
He noted that granting multiple ministries the authority to act would ensure such content is removed before it goes viral.
Implementation and Legal Process
The minister emphasised that the change would involve amending existing rules rather than the IT Act itself, making the process relatively straightforward. This adjustment would allow the government to respond to high-risk content across various sectors without administrative delays.
In a separate move to regulate digital content, the government recently directed social media platforms to remove a viral song featuring Sanjay Dutt and Nora Fatehi.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting took action against the Hindi version of the song “Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke” from the film KD: The Devil due to concerns over its content.
This initiative reflects the government’s increasing focus on tackling fake news, deepfakes, and other harmful content on social media, while streamlining the process for rapid enforcement.