India amended its Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 in October 2025 to expressly address deepfakes and “synthetically generated information.” The amendment imposes labeling, takedown, and platform accountability obligations, with deepfake-specific provisions taking effect in February 2026.
Amendment notified 22 October 2025; deepfake-specific provisions in force since 20 February 2026.
What it covers
- “Synthetically generated information”: audio, visual, or audio-visual content generated, modified, or altered through algorithmic, computational, or AI processes
- Significant Social Media Intermediaries (SSMIs) hosting user-generated content
- Both Indian and foreign platforms accessible in India
Requirements and penalties
- Mandatory user disclosure that content is AI-generated, with platforms required to verify and display labels
- Three-hour takedown for some content categories upon authorized request
- Loss of safe harbor protection under Section 79 of the IT Act for non-compliant platforms
- Takedown orders only by officers at Joint Secretary or DIG rank, with monthly senior review
Official source
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