India Considers Removing Legal Protection for Social Media Platforms Over User-Posted Content

# India Considers Removing Legal Protection for Social Media Platforms Over User-Posted Content **New Delhi, November 5, 2026:** The Indian government is considering changes to the country's social media regulatory framework, including a proposal to withdraw certain legal protections currently available to online platforms for content posted by their users. According to a report by *The Indian Express*, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has begun discussions on reviewing the existing legal framework. The proposed change could affect major social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X. Under the existing framework, Section 79 of the Information Technology Act provides conditional legal protection, commonly known as safe-harbour protection, to eligible online intermediaries for third-party content, subject to compliance with applicable legal requirements. If the government proceeds with changes, social media companies could face greater legal responsibility concerning content shared by their users. However, the proposal is still under discussion. No final government decision or implemented rule has been announced in the report. The development has raised important questions about online accountability, freedom of expression, platform responsibility and digital regulation in India. **Source:** The Indian Express, November 5, 2026.