Meity denies issuing social media takedown orders directly

A senior official from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) has stated that the ministry does not directly issue takedown orders for social media content, clarifying the government's role in content moderation processes.

The clarification comes amid persistent scrutiny over how content removal decisions are made in India and which authorities bear responsibility for such actions. The statement suggests that while Meity may be involved in overseeing digital regulation, the actual issuance of takedown orders may fall to other agencies or occur through different channels.

India has seen increasing debate around content moderation, government intervention, and free speech online. Various regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies operate within India's framework for managing digital content, which includes provisions under the Information Technology Act and related rules.

The Meity official's statement appears designed to clarify the ministry's specific remit within this broader regulatory landscape, though questions remain about the exact mechanisms through which takedown requests are processed across India's digital platforms and government agencies.