Aditi Agrawal

Update: This platform, called MAITRI, has been discussed by MoSPI Secretary Saurabh Garg at multiple panels today.

+AI Impact Commons, a repository of AI use cases, is expected to be formally announced this evening at the summit. Here’s its website: www.aiimpactcommons.global

Edition 21: 'Put 3-hour takedown, deepfake amendments in abeyance': USISPF to MeitY In the most strongly worded submission made thus far, the USISPF criticised the amendments to IT Rules for being unfeasible and called out the inefficiencies of I4C's Sahyog portal.

New: USISPF has asked MeitY to put the recent amendments to IT Rules in abeyance, initiate a consultation, and defer enforcement. Reasons cited include criticism of government's own takedown systems and processes, including Sahyog portal.

Link to article: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-21...

Edition 20: 'Hold consultations on amendments to content takedown timelines': Industry bodies to MeitY IAMAI and BIF wrote to the Indian IT ministry on February 16, criticising the recent amendments to intermediary rules that reduced content takedown timelines to as little as two hours.

New: In two separate letters sent to MeitY secretary on February 16, IAMAI and BIF have called for stakeholder consultation on the recently notified amendments to IT Rules, particularly those related to reduced content takedown timelines.

Link: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-20...

Edition 19: Platform enabling global access to pooled compute, datasets to be announced at India AI Summit The platform, part of the charter of the working group on democratising AI resources, will serve as "a shared infrastructure and knowledge hub" for countries.

New: To expand global access to AI infrastructure including pooled compute and datasets, the Indian government plans to announce a platform at the India AI Impact Summit this week, MoSPI secretary Saurabh Garg said in a conversation with me.

Link: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-19...

Now: MeitY has notified the deepfake amendment to IT Rules.

New: While ₹10 crore have been allocated for the Data Protection Board in FY27, the budget has been revised from ₹5 crore to ₹2 crore for FY26. ₹2 crore had been allocated towards the DPB for FY25 back in July 2024 but it wasn’t used as per actuals.

Edition 18: IT Ministry wants to shorten data protection compliance timelines from 18 months In a closed-door meeting on January 22, MeitY gave large technology companies time until February 4 to give feedback on immediate enactment of certain provisions.

New: MeitY mulling immediately enacting some provisions of DPDP Act/Rules related to govt access to personal data, exemptions for authorised agencies, and cross-border data flows. Companies given time until Feb 4 to give their feedback.

Detailed story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-18...

won’t allow obscene imagery, this person said.

It isn’t yet clear if this is a number meant only for Indian accounts/content or a global number.

Now: In response to Indian IT ministry’s notice over NCII generated by Grok, X wrote to MeitY that it had removed over 3,500 pieces of content and deleted over 600 accounts, a senior government official said.

The company said that it would comply with Indian laws and going forward,

Edition 17: Govt considering ethics code for social media users, online news: MIB in Supreme Court MIB has proposed amending the Digital Media Ethics Code under IT Rules, 2021 to that effect. It has also proposed provisions to deal with obscenity online, deriving from Section 67 of the IT Act.

New: The govt is considering creating an ethics code for social media users, and online news, MIB told the SC in a written submission on November 20. It also proposed obscenity related amendments to IT Rules, 2021, for all online content.

Link to story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-17...

Analysis: Of MeitY’s November 21 advisory asking intermediaries to ‘proactively’ identify and remove content glorifying violence, in light of the blast near Red Fort.

Link to story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-16...

3. Mandatorily report to LEAs offences 'perceived' to be committed by a user that threaten national security as per BNSS

4. Assist LEAs in investigation/protection by giving info, including to verify identities

Now: MeitY has issued an advisory to all intermediaries wrt content related to the blast at Red Fort. Intermediaries must:

1. Quickly and 'proactively' identify and remove info affecting national security

2. Disable/remove such info within timelines stipulated in IT Rules, 2021

Edition 15: Details of Digipub's challenge to Karnataka HC order on online content takedown provisions Digipub wants to join X's writ appeal against a September order that dismissed X's petition against the use of specific IT Act provisions, I4C's Sahyog portal used to issue online content takedown not...

New: Details of Digipub, Abhinandan Sekhri's intervention application challenging the September 2025 K'taka HC order against X's petition on the use of Section 79(3)(b), Rule 3(1)(d) and Sahyog portal issue takedown notices

Link to story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-15...

Now: In response to the media coverage of the Red Fort blast, MIB has issued an advisory to all TV (news) channels to avoid broadcasting visuals that could aid in carrying out unlawful acts (such as those on how to make explosives, or justifying such violence).

Edition 14: X challenges Karnataka HC order on content takedown provisions X has challenged the single judge's order dismissing its petition against the Centre's use of Section 79(3)(b) of IT Act, Rule 3(1)(d) of IT Rules, and Sahyog portal to send content takedown notices.

New: X, formerly Twitter, has challenged the single judge bench's order dismissing its petition against the use of S79.3.b, R3.1.d and Sahyog portal to send takedown notices.

Link to story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-14...

Edition 14: X challenges Karnataka HC order on content takedown provisions X has challenged the single judge's order dismissing its petition against the Centre's use of Section 79(3)(b) of IT Act, Rule 3(1)(d) of IT Rules, and Sahyog portal to send content takedown notices.

New: X, formerly Twitter, has challenged the single judge bench's order dismissing its petition against the use of S79.3.b, R3.1.d and Sahyog portal to send takedown notices.

Link to story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-14...

Now:

1. Parts of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 come into force today, others will come into force 12/18 months from today.

2. DPDP Rules notified. Some come into effect today, others 12/18 months from today.

3. Data Protection Board established and will consist of 4 members.

Remove deepfakes within 3 hours of being notified: Election Commission to political parties This notice to all parties comes a week after a BJP delegation, led by current IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, approached the Election Commission of India (ECI). | Latest News India

Details of two previous ECI advisories from May 2024 and January 2025:

www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/r...

www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi...

2. Parties to display name of entity responsible for generation in either the caption or metadata is also new (see MeitY draft rules too).

3. Parties to maintain records of such AI generated campaign material for verification by ECI. This is new compared to previous advisories.

Now: ECI’s latest advisory on political parties using AI generated content requires:

1. Parties to label synthetic content with labels occupying 10% of photo area, 10% of audio length, or as a permanent label on top of a video. Echoes MeitY’s proposed amendments to IT Rules.

New: Telecom Cyber Security Rules have been amended to allow the government to create a mobile number validation (MNV) platform.

Link to notified rules: dot.gov.in/sites/defaul...

Now: Amendment to Rule 3(1)(d) of IT Rules 2021 has been notified in the official gazette. It will come into force on November 15.

Correction: Rule 3.1.d amendments to come into effect on Nov 15. Error in the info sheet.

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw: “Accountability of the government increases with this change. We will be giving a reasoned intimation whenever such order is passed. Orders will be passed at a fairly senior order, JS and above, and DIG and above.”

Now: MeitY has amended Rule 3(1)(d) of IT Rules 2021 to implement a review mechanism, define the seniority of officers who can send takedown notices, issue reasoned orders. Gazette notification to be uploaded tomorrow. To be brought into effect from November 1.

Key points as per MeitY:

Now: MeitY has proposed amendments to IT Rules 2021 to deal with synthetically generated information (deepfakes) by labelling them or identifying them using metadata. Additional obligations proposed for SSMIs.

Comments invited until November 6.

www.meity.gov.in/static/uploa...

Comments can be sent as Word or PDF file to this (appropriately named) email address until October 31: ogrules.consultation@meity.gov.in

Here is MeitY’s explanatory note: www.meity.gov.in/static/uploa...