The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has broadened its advisory on social media content labelling, requiring platforms to apply “enhanced diligence” to identify and label false, misleading, manipulated, or deliberately out-of-context content, especially related to current events. This update was announced amid ongoing protests and concerns over misinformation, according to medianama.com.
The advisory instructs social media companies to extend their content labelling practices beyond synthetic media to cover a wider range of misleading information. The move follows public outcry triggered by an explicit AI deepfake involving Telugu celebrities Janhvi Kapoor and Jr NTR, which intensified demands for stricter regulations on AI-generated deepfake content. MeitY’s guidelines aim to curb the spread of harmful misinformation on digital platforms.
This development comes as part of India’s broader efforts to regulate digital content and combat misinformation online. The expanded labelling requirements align with global trends where governments seek greater accountability from social media companies. The advisory also highlights the challenges of policing AI-generated content, which can be difficult to detect and may cause reputational harm, as seen in recent high-profile deepfake cases involving public figures.
The full advisory was detailed in a MediaNama report published on October 9, 2026, which also noted that the government’s approach includes ongoing monitoring and potential further measures to address digital misinformation. MeitY’s expanded guidelines represent a significant step in India’s digital policy landscape.