India has formally tightened the rules around AI-generated and synthetic content under the IT Rules Amendment, 2026, notified on 10 February and effective 20 February 2026.
This update introduces a new category of Synthetically Generated Information, mandatory labelling and metadata traceability for synthetic media, stricter takedown duties (including a 3-hour window for certain directions), and compressed grievance timelines with 2-hour acknowledgment and 7-day resolution requirements. Intermediaries and SSMIs now face a clear shift from reactive moderation to proactive, demonstrable oversight of deepfakes and other AI-created media, while retaining safe harbour only where due diligence standards are robustly met.