On Feb 17, India’s information minister stressed that multinational technology platforms must function within the bounds of the country’s constitution, reiterating the government’s expectation for foreign digital companies to respect local norms and laws. The remarks followed a recent tightening of content-removal rules that shortens the allowed window for taking down unlawful material.
Speaking at a briefing during the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, the minister said the cultural context of the host country is important for global multinationals to understand. "It’s very important for the multinationals to understand the cultural context of the country in which they are operating," Ashwini Vaishnaw said at the event, which this week will host senior executives from leading artificial intelligence firms alongside several world leaders.
New Delhi last week moved to accelerate the timeline for social media companies to remove unlawful content, cutting the required response time to three hours from an earlier 36-hour period. The shorter deadline could present a compliance challenge for platforms including YouTube, Meta and X, according to the government’s announcement.
The information minister also highlighted the need for more stringent oversight of deepfakes, noting that a dialogue with industry stakeholders has already begun on that front. He framed stronger regulation of synthetic media as a priority area for policymakers.
India’s actions sit within a larger global trend towards demanding faster content moderation and greater platform accountability. Governments in regions from Brussels to Brasilia have pushed for accelerated takedowns and tougher enforcement against illegal or harmful material.
In a related development on Tuesday, Spain directed prosecutors to investigate social media companies X, Meta and TikTok over allegations they have been linked to the spread of AI-generated child sexual abuse material. The move reflects intensifying scrutiny from European regulators into how large technology platforms handle harmful and illegal content.
The combination of India’s quicker removal mandate, a focus on deepfakes, and high-profile probes abroad underscores a regulatory environment that is tightening around major digital platforms. How companies adjust to accelerated takedown timelines and evolving rules for synthetic content will be closely watched by industry and policymakers alike.