India: Bill amending Information Technology Act (No. 16 of 2025), to include provisions criminalising online harassment and deepfakes, including content moderation regulation was introduced to Council of States

On 5 December 2025, the Bill amending the Information Technology Act, 2000, to include provisions criminalising online harassment and deepfakes, including content moderation regulation, was introduced to the Council of States of the Parliament of India. The Bill applies to individuals and intermediaries handling electronic communications, including social media platforms, covering messages, images, audio, video, and deepfake or digitally forged content. It defines and penalises online harassment, stalking, credible threats, incitement to violence or public disorder, knowingly false panic-inducing content, and the creation or distribution of harmful deepfakes or digital forgeries. The Bill provides for imprisonment of up to one year or fines up to INR 1 lakh for non-compliance, while requiring complaints, arrests, and enforcement actions to follow prescribed approvals and procedural safeguards. It also mandates intermediaries to establish grievance redressal mechanisms for reporting violations before legal action is initiated.