The Central Government has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026 through a Gazette notification dated 10 February 2026, introducing new regulations for AI-generated content, deepfakes, and synthetically generated information in India.
A key feature of the amendment is the introduction of the concept of “synthetically generated information” (SGI). SGI refers to audio, visual, or audio-visual information that is artificially generated or modified using algorithms or computer resources in a manner that makes the content appear authentic or indistinguishable from real persons, objects, or events. This includes deepfake videos, AI-generated images, voice cloning, and manipulated audiovisual content. The Rules clarify that routine technological processes such as colour correction, noise reduction, compression, translation, transcription, or preparation of documents and presentations will not be treated as SGI where they do not create misleading representations.
The amendment also significantly revises the compliance timelines applicable to intermediaries under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Intermediaries are now required to remove or disable access to unlawful content within three hours of receiving a court order or lawful direction from the government, replacing the earlier thirty-six-hour timeframe. Complaints requiring urgent action must now be addressed within thirty-six hours, instead of the earlier seventy-two hours. In cases involving non-consensual intimate imagery, impersonation, or morphed or deepfake sexual content, intermediaries must remove or disable access to such content within two hours, replacing the earlier twenty-four-hour timeline. Further, the grievance redressal mechanism has been strengthened by reducing the time for disposal of user grievances from fifteen days to seven days.
The amendment represents a significant step toward regulating synthetic media in India while strengthening online safety, accountability, and platform responsibility in the digital ecosystem.