The Indian government has proposed changes to extend its regulatory framework to a wider range of online news voices, including influencers and podcasters on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and X.
Last week, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) suggested amendments to India's IT rules - which govern digital media content - to include users who are not publishers who share content related to news and current affairs within a code of ethics it currently applies to registered news publishers.
Experts say this will potentially give the government more power over news-related posts shared by ordinary users, including independent journalists and podcasters.
The government has proposed requiring social media platforms to follow orders and guidelines if they want to keep safe harbour protection - legal immunity from liability for content posted by users.
The proposed amendments have alarmed digital rights activists and independent news creators, who say they could enforce near-total compliance with state-led censorship on social media platforms. They also warn the rules could be misused to target critics and clamp down on dissent.
The government claims the amendments will strengthen existing IT rules and curb fake news, hate speech, and deepfakes and has invited public feedback by 14 April.
But critics remain sceptical of the government's stated intentions.
Akash Banerjee, who runs the YouTube channel The Deshbhakt with more than six million subscribers, says the rules could create a climate of fear, pushing many creators toward self-censorship.
Interestingly, despite the many laws regulating online content, hate speech and fake news haven't reduced in the country. Meanwhile, posts that are critical of the government - even if they're satirical - are increasingly being blocked or removed, Banerjee says. The authorities reject the charge.
But last month, X blocked about a dozen accounts, many known for satirical posts about the government, acting on orders issued under Section 69A of India's IT Act.
Kumar Nayan, whose X account @Nehr_who? has about 242,000 followers, told the BBC he received neither prior notice nor an explanation for the block. Nayan said his account was restored this week by a court order, but 10 posts remain blocked in India pending review by a government-appointed panel. The BBC has seen the posts, all of which either mock Prime Minister Narendra Modi or criticise his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
Sandeep Singh, whose X account @ActivistSandeep (with 100,000+ followers) was among those blocked in March, says he began posting critical views after feeling mainstream media was biased in favour of the BJP. Singh's X account remained blocked in India at the time of writing this article.
Overall, both users and experts warn that the amendments may reinforce government control over online narratives and stifle independent voices that challenge the status quo.
