Modi Govt Tightens Digital Safety Framework
Government strengthens rules against obscene and AI-generated harmful content, expands cybercrime reporting mechanisms
- Centre aims to ensure a safe, trusted and accountable internet.
- IT Rules mandate action against obscene, unlawful and AI-generated harmful content.
- Anonymous cybercrime reporting available for women and children through NCRP.
- New module allows citizens to report suspicious websites, numbers and deepfakes.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 5th Aug: The Centre on Wednesday said it is committed to keeping India’s internet free from unlawful, obscene and harmful content while strengthening safeguards against cybercrime through stricter regulations and enhanced reporting mechanisms.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan said the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 provide the legal framework for tackling unlawful online content and ensuring accountability of digital intermediaries.
The government said intermediaries, including social media platforms, are required to make reasonable efforts to prevent users from sharing obscene, pornographic, child sexual abuse material, gender-based abusive content or any information that violates Indian laws. Failure to comply with these obligations can result in the loss of legal protection under Section 79 of the IT Act.
The Centre also highlighted amendments made to the IT Rules on February 10, 2026, requiring intermediaries to deploy technical measures to prevent the creation and dissemination of unlawful synthetically generated information (SGI), including deepfakes and AI-generated harmful content. Platforms are also required to report offences under applicable laws to the relevant authorities.
The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), operated under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), enables citizens to report all categories of cybercrime. It also allows anonymous reporting of cyber offences involving women and children through a dedicated module.
Additionally, the NCRP has introduced a “Report and Check Suspect” feature, enabling users to report suspicious websites, WhatsApp numbers, Telegram handles, phone numbers, email IDs, SMS headers, social media links and suspected deepfakes.
The government said ₹132.93 crore has been released under the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) Scheme to strengthen cyber forensic laboratories, train law enforcement agencies and improve cybercrime investigation capabilities across States and Union Territories.
According to the government, cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories have been established in 33 States and Union Territories, while more than 24,600 law enforcement personnel, prosecutors and judicial officers have received specialised cybercrime training. The I4C has also conducted cyber hygiene training for over two lakh NCC, NSS and NYKS volunteers and published awareness handbooks for students and women.
