India's Defense Ministry has granted its military direct authority to issue takedown notices for unauthorized content related to armed forces on social media platforms, marking a significant shift in digital content control.
The ministry has appointed the Additional Directorate General of Strategic Communication as the nodal officer, empowering them to send removal requests directly to social media platforms under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act.
Previously, the military relied on the Ministry of Electronics and IT to block or remove unauthorized content. The new notification enables direct communication between military authorities and social media platforms, streamlining the content removal process.
Interior sources reveal the change aims to expedite response times to "misinformation," particularly concerning national security matters affecting the military's image. No new takedown notices have been issued since the October 24 notification.
Legal experts note that Section 79(3)(b) provides broader authority to various government departments for issuing takedown notices with fewer restrictions compared to other IT Act sections. The provision has sparked debate regarding the scope of takedown powers and potential challenges to such actions.
In February, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had ordered the removal of a news article by The Caravan regarding allegations against the Indian military, demonstrating the existing content control framework.
