NITI Aayog discusses content removal rules with tech firms

India's policy think tank NITI Aayog held a meeting on June 25 focused on the country's online content blocking rules and transparency timelines. Representatives from key tech intermediaries, including Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and YouTube, alongside several industry associations, participated in the closed-door discussion, according to The Indian Express.

During the meeting, NITI Aayog reportedly inquired about the operational feasibility of current takedown, grievance, and transparency timelines across different types and sizes of intermediaries. The body also sought opinions on which intermediary due diligence obligations impose the highest compliance burden and which operational simplifications would be most impactful.

Participating industry bodies included Nasscom, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), and Broadband India Forum (BIF). NITI Aayog also gathered views on broader regulatory issues such as laws affecting social media companies, cybersecurity, data protection, and online gaming.

NITI Aayog may submit a report to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) based on these consultations. The discussions are reportedly part of NITI Aayog’s new “Jan Vishwas Siddhant” initiative, potentially linked to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s proposed Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, which aims to decriminalize or rationalize offenses and penalties across 80 central acts.