The amendments to IT rules, that were made in November 2025, have made them more effective by bringing about more safeguards so as to bring about greater transparency, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology informed the Lok Sabha.Responding to Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi’s unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, the reply further stated that these safeguards entails removal of online content deemed unlawful, directions by senior officials and subjected to periodic review.Under the amended Rules, directions to intermediaries must specify the legal basis, statutory provision, nature of the unlawful act and the specific URL or electronic location of the content.“Any intimation to intermediaries for removal of unlawful information can only be issued by a senior officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary, or equivalent, or, where such rank is not appointed, a director or an officer equivalent in rank and where so authorised, acting through a single corresponding officer in its authorised agency, where such agency is so appointed,” the reply reads. Further, an officer not below the rank of a Deputy Inspector General of Police can issue such intimation.The response also detailed that intimations are put through a monthly review by a Secetary of the government to ensure actions are proportionate and per the law.While Mr. Owaisi soight the number of ‘content removal orders, blocking orders and account suspension requests issued by the Union Government during the last year’, the reply appeared silent on this aspect. Published - August 12, 2026 06:50 pm IST