India Cuts Social Media Content Removal Deadline From 36 Hours To 3 Hours, Mandates Labels For AI-Generated Content

New Delhi, August 6, 2026: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has shortened the deadline for social media platforms to remove "unlawful information" from 36 hours to three hours after receiving a valid notice from the government or a court.

The revised rules also mandate clearer labelling of AI-generated content and stricter measures to address deepfakes and synthetic media.

Three-Hour Compliance Window

Under the revised rules, social media intermediaries will have three hours to act on a valid government or court notice seeking the removal of unlawful content.

The change significantly reduces the earlier 36-hour window available to platforms for complying with such notices.

Focus On Deepfakes

The ministry has also issued directions aimed at addressing the growing threat posed by deepfakes and AI-generated videos.

Intermediaries have been directed to ensure that such content carries clear labels and traceable metadata so users can "easily identify synthetically generated material and prevent deception or misuse".

AI Content Must Be Labelled

The directions form part of the Information Technology (IT) Rules amended by the government in February.

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“Intermediaries are required to ensure clear labelling and traceable metadata for permissible AI-generated content, so that users can easily identify synthetically generated material and prevent deception or misuse,” the revised rules said.

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