New Delhi: India’s fight against unlawful digital content has gained significant momentum with strengthened mechanisms led by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Sahyog Portal, enabling faster and more coordinated action against illegal material on major online platforms.
An amendment in February 2026 to the IT Intermediaries Rules 2021 reduced the mandatory takedown time for unlawful content from 36 hours to just three hours. This change aims to curb the rapid spread of harmful material across platforms serving India’s massive internet user base. With around 600 million users in the country generating up to 78,703 items every 68 seconds, authorities note that the sheer volume makes occasional unlawful posts inevitable. The government has emphasised that the state cannot abdicate its responsibility and must prevent lawlessness in cyberspace.
Between March and July 2026, approximately 2.98 lakh URLs were flagged for takedown. Of these, 2.44 lakh (82%) originated from state governments, while I4C itself referred around 51,000 URLs, primarily linked to cyber, infrastructure, and stock-investment scams. Over the past two years, the majority of content intimated by I4C involved transnational financial frauds, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and offences related to women and children.
The Sahyog Portal serves as the central platform through which states and central ministries intimate IT intermediaries about unlawful content. Only authorised officers notified by the concerned ministry or state government can issue such intimations. All notices undergo periodic review by the respective governments. Intermediaries are required to act on these valid intimations from competent authorities.
API integration with Meta was completed in 2025 at the company’s request, further streamlining the process. Officials stress that these measures balance the need for swift enforcement with procedural safeguards, ensuring that platforms respond promptly while maintaining accountability in the digital ecosystem.
