On 10 February 2026, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, in notification G.S.R. 120(E). The amendments came into force on 20 February.[1] They define synthetically generated information as audio, visual or audio-visual content that is artificially or algorithmically created or altered so that it appears real. Under the definition, the content must also depict a person or event in a way likely to be perceived as indistinguishable from a real one. Routine editing, good-faith document preparation and accessibility improvements are excluded.[1, 2]

A new rule 3(3) applies to intermediaries, the online services that host or carry content for users, if their services can be used to create, alter or share such content. Such an intermediary must use technical measures to block unlawful synthetic content, such as child sexual abuse material. Other synthetic content must carry a prominent label, or an audio disclosure at the start of audio content. Where technically feasible, it must also carry permanent metadata or another provenance mechanism, including a unique identifier for the intermediary's computer resource used to create or alter it. The intermediary may not enable anyone to modify, suppress or remove the label or metadata.[1, 2] MeitY's answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) add that such services should not offer options to remove a watermark or export content without metadata. MeitY says the FAQ is not a legal document.[3]

Significant social media intermediaries, those with registered users in India above a government-notified threshold, have further duties under a new rule 4(1A). Before content is published, they must ask users to declare whether it is synthetic and use technical measures to verify the declaration. Content found to be synthetic must be labeled.[1, 2]

The rules name no technical standard for the metadata or identifier.[1] On 21 April 2026, MeitY proposed a further change: labels on visual content would have to stay visible for the content's full duration. Comments were due by 7 May.[4]

Sources

  1. Notification G.S.R. 120(E), Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Gazette of India) · 10 Feb 2026
  2. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, updated as on 10.02.2026Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology · 10 Feb 2026
  3. Frequently Asked Questions on the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology · 10 Feb 2026
  4. Notice on extension of time for feedback on draft amendments to the IT Rules, 2021, including additional amendments in Rule 3(3)(a)(ii)Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology · 21 Apr 2026

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