For the first time in India’s digital governance landscape, the Union government has formally placed artificial intelligence-generated content within an enforceable regulatory framework, including deepfake videos, synthetic audio fabrications, and digitally altered visuals.
It has been announced through a Gazette Notification number G.S.R. 120(E), signed by Joint Secretary Ajit Kumar, that the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026, will come into force on February 20, 2026. Despite its perceived fringe status, manipulated media is now recognized as a mainstream threat capable of distorting public discourse, reputations, and democratic processes as a mainstream issue.
Government officials have drawn a sharper regulatory boundary around a rapidly expanding digital grey zone by tightening the obligations of intermediaries and defining accountability around artificial intelligence-driven deception. Considering the rapid proliferation of synthetic media across digital platforms, the notification provides a calibrated regulatory response.
Through the incorporation of artificial intelligence-manipulated content into the Information Technology framework compliance architecture, the amendment clarifies intermediary liability, strengthens due diligence requirements, and narrows interpretive ambiguities associated with deepfake enforcement previously.
Essentially, algorithmically generated impersonations, voice clonings, and audiovisual material will no longer be considered peripheral anomalies, but rather regulated digital artefacts requiring legislative oversight. According to the revised rules, intermediaries are required to demonstrate mechanisms for detecting, expediting removal, and resolving user grievances involving deceptive or impersonative synthetic content.
These requirements are intended to impose a defined compliance burden on intermediaries.
In addition, the amendment recognizes that generative artificial intelligence systems have significantly reduced the threshold for large-scale misinformation, reputational manipulation, and misuse of identities.
The government has done so by transitioning from advisory posture to enforceable mandate, enforcing the principle that technological innovations are not independent of regulatory responsibility while also incorporating AI-era content risks within India’s formal digital compliance regime.
In addition to expanding the regulatory scope, the 2026 amendment substantially adjusts the obligations of intermediaries concerning compliance with synthetically generated information and unlawful digital content, particularly in light of the expanded regulatory scope. Its effective date is February 20, 2026, and the revised framework amends the 2021 Rules by emphasizing enforceability, platform accountability, and informed user participation.
In accordance with modified Rule 3(1)(c), intermediaries will now need to issue user advisories every three months, replacing an earlier annual disclosure, and explicitly stating what the consequences are for violating platform terms of service, privacy policies, or user agreements. Those users should be aware that non-compliance may result in suspensions or terminations of their access rights, as well as the potential for liability under applicable laws.
In addition to establishing mandatory reporting obligations in cases of cognizable offences, including those governed by the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the amendment reinforces the integration of platform governance with criminal law enforcement mechanisms. However, the most significant procedural change relates to the compression of response timelines.
There is now a significant reduction in the c
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