India Pushes for Social Media Accountability, Revenue Sharing, and User Safety

Latest Delhi – Union Minister of Electronics, Information Technology, and Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has issued a strong call for increased accountability from social media platforms, emphasizing fair revenue sharing with content creators and enhanced user safety measures. The announcements, made at the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave 2026, signal a significant shift in India’s approach to regulating the digital space.

Revenue Sharing with Content Creators

Vaishnaw stressed the demand for social media platforms to fairly compensate those who generate content, including journalists, traditional media organizations, influencers, professors, and researchers. “Everywhere, the principle now has to be set right, and there has to be a fair share of revenue with the people who are creating the content,” he stated. He indicated that if platforms do not voluntarily adopt such policies, legal measures may be considered, citing examples of other countries that have successfully implemented similar regulations. News18

Increased Accountability for Content

The Minister asserted that platforms must take responsibility for the content hosted on their sites, moving away from the previous stance of considering themselves merely conduits of information. “Platforms must wake up and understand the importance of reinforcing trust in the institutions that human society has created over thousands of years,” Vaishnaw said. Failure to adhere to these principles will result in platforms being held liable for harmful content. Times of India

Combating Deepfakes and Synthetic Content

Vaishnaw expressed serious concerns about the rising threat of deepfakes and organized disinformation campaigns, which undermine trust in institutions and potentially harm individuals. He emphasized that user consent must be mandatory for all synthetically generated content, meaning that creating content using someone’s face, voice, or personality requires their explicit permission. Times of India

Regulations on Children’s Social Media Access

The government is actively exploring age-based restrictions on social media access for children, following the lead of countries like Australia. Discussions are underway with social media platforms and internet intermediaries to implement a complete ban for children below a certain age. This initiative builds upon the age-based differentiation already included in India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. Times Now News

Faster Content Takedown Rules

To enhance platform accountability, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology recently amended the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code, 2021. The new rules, effective February 20, reduce the response time for platforms to remove objectionable and unlawful content from 36 hours to just three hours. Times Now News

Looking Ahead

Vaishnaw’s statements underscore the Indian government’s commitment to creating a safer and more equitable digital ecosystem. The coming months will be crucial as platforms respond to these demands and adapt their policies to align with India’s evolving regulatory landscape. The Minister emphasized the need for platforms to cooperate with the changes society requires, signaling a firm stance on digital accountability. Outlook Business