New Delhi: The IT Rules have been changed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to make it clear that only senior officials have the power to issue content take-down notices pursuant to section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act. The updated rule, which will be effective from November 15, is expected to make the content removal process at social media companies more accountable and transparent. So far the junior officers in Central and State governments, such as sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, had been empowered to make such orders.

On October 22, MeitY announced that take-down notices will be authorised only by officers of the joint secretary grade or higher, or also by police officials of the rank of deputy inspector general (DIG) or h

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