Centre Considers Revoking Safe Harbour Protections for Major Social Platforms

5 Nov 2026, 11:25 am · 3h ago · 1 min read · Inc42New

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is exploring the withdrawal of safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000 for social media platforms including Meta, Google, and X. If implemented, platforms could face legal liability for user-generated content. MeitY is examining whether immunity should strictly apply to pure transmission intermediaries such as ISPs, telecom providers, and messaging platforms. The exploratory discussions stem from growing regulatory scrutiny over harmful content, child safety, and algorithmic addiction, alongside an ongoing Supreme Court PIL concerning recommendation algorithms. Amendments require parliamentary approval.