The Indian government is proposing amendments to the Information Technology Rules, 2021, which would bring Community Notes, a user-generated fact-checking tool on X, under the ministry of information and broadcasting's regulatory remit when dealing with news and current affairs.
According to an official, when a Community Note touches on news, politics, or public policy, it could come under scrutiny under the expanded framework.
The proposed expansion would formalise the ministry's remit over a category of content it does not currently regulate, including content posted by users on social media, including influencers and ordinary users resharing content.
The government has faced pushback from industry and civil society groups, with intermediaries questioning their inclusion under provisions subject to MIB directions.
Policy experts warn the expansion is poorly scoped and could raise questions for spaces such as Wikipedia entries or X's Community Notes, where content is collectively generated and iteratively shaped.
