US government report says India’s online takedown rules appear ‘politically motivated’
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The Indian government has subjected several American companies to an “increasing number of takedown requests” since 2021 for content and user accounts online related to matters that appear “politically motivated”, a United States government report has said.
The report, titled the 2026 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers and released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, highlighted significant foreign barriers to US exports, foreign direct investment and electronic commerce in several countries.
On laws about the digital ecosystem, the report noted that the Indian government had notified the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules in February 2021.
The rules oversee social media, streaming platforms and digital news.
The report said that the IT rules impose several requirements that US stakeholders have identified as “concerning”.
“For example, the IT rules impose personal criminal liability on individual employees in cases where a firm is not in compliance with the rules,” it said. “The IT rules also include imposition of impractical compliance deadlines and take-down protocols.”
The report noted that the Indian government, in October 2025, amended the IT rules to define the authorities that can seek the removal of content posted online. Its earlier version had said that any “appropriate government or its agency” can direct social media platforms to take down content.
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