MediaNama is organising a discussion on the impact and implications of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MeitY) proposed amendments to the IT Rules, 2021. The event will be held in Delhi, and those outside the city may join our discussion online via Zoom. Please register using the links below.

• Date: Thursday, 23 April 2026
• Time: 12:30 PM to 5 PM
• Format: Hybrid Event – In-Person and Virtual (Via Zoom) 
• Venue: Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Centre, Delhi

• 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM |  Lunch and Networking.
  
• 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM |  Session 1: Victims of Censorship in India. 
  10 Minute break
  
• 1:55 PM – 2:45 PM | Session 2: MeitY’s Expanding Mandate: Rule 3(4), the timelines for content takedowns, and the Safe Harbour, in the context of Shreya Singhal and the IT Act.
  
• 2:45 PM – 3:15 PM: Open House Discussion
  10 Minute break
  
• 3:25 PM – 4:15 PM | Session 3: MIB’s Expanded Reach: The IDC, Part III, and Government Oversight of News Content and impact on users online.
  
• 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM: Open House Discussion

Here is the brief breakdown of the sessions: 

Session 1: Victims of Censorship in India

The discussion opens up with the individuals who are directly affected by the online censorship, including through Sahyog portal, the content takedown machinery developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to regulate online free speech. This session will set the context for subsequent discussions on how the draft amendments, particularly those granting legal force to ministry-issued notices and extending the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s (MIB) Code of Ethics to user-generated news content, may affect online free speech and reinforce existing censorship mechanisms.

Session 2: MeitY’s Expanding Mandate: Rule 3(4), the timelines for content takedowns, and the Safe Harbour, in the context of Shreya Singhal and the IT Act.

Some of the key themes: 

• Implications of Rule 3(4) for intermediary liability and safe harbour.
• Impact of evolving executive directions on platform compliance.
• Shift from “actual knowledge” to continuous compliance expectations.
• Operational challenges posed by compressed takedown timelines.
• Risks of over-compliance and automated content removal.

Followed by open house discussion  

Session 3: MIB’s Expanded Reach: The IDC, Part III, and Government Oversight of News Content and impact on users online.

Some of the key themes: 

• Expansion of Part III to user-generated news content.
• Role and powers of the Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC).
• Implications for individuals posting or sharing news content.
• Constitutional concerns and judicial scrutiny.
• Impact on news publishers and digital platforms.

Followed by open house discussion.

Register here (for in-person attendance) | Zoom link (for virtual participation)

Note:

• Registration does not guarantee attendance. In case you fit our mandate for the intended audience, we’ll send you a confirmation before the event.
• Your contact information will never be shared with anyone outside of MediaNama.

Note: MediaNama hosting this discussion with support from Meta, Amazon and Google. Our community partners for this event are Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), Centre For Communication Governance (CCG) and Digipub.